Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she plans to file articles of impeachment against Supreme Court justices following Monday's ruling that granted former President Donald Trump some immunity from being prosecuted for "official" acts taken while he was president.
Related story: Supreme Court sends Trump case back to lower court, giving former president limited immunity
"The Supreme Court has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement on social media. "Today's ruling represents an assault on American democracy. it is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture."
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez added that she plans to introduce articles of impeachment next week when House members return from the July 4 holiday. However, she did not specify which justices she will target.
The announcement comes after the Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that former President Trump is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for official acts taken as president, but there is no immunity for unofficial acts. The court sent the case back to a lower court to determine which of Trump's actions regarding the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, if any, were official duties and therefore subject to immunity.
The order also applies to any past, current, or future president. But it left many wondering what constitutes an "official" act as president rather than an "unofficial" act.
Prosecutors claim the Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling doesn't impact the New York hush money case, but they are willing to push back the sentencing date for up to two weeks.
Related story: Trump's lawyers ask judge to set aside his conviction, citing Supreme Court's immunity ruling
Like Ocasio-Cortez, President Joe Biden also denounced the Supreme Court's decision, claiming it set a "dangerous precedent."
"This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America," President Biden said. "For all practical purposes, today's decision almost certainly means there are virtually no limits on what a president can do."
Throughout U.S. history, just one Supreme Court justice has ever been impeached. The House of Representatives voted in favor of removing Associate Justice Samuel Chase from the high court in 1805, but he was later acquitted by the Senate.
