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SCOTUS Decision on Presidential Immunity — An MWEG Interview With Expert Benjamin Wittes
Jessica Larson, MWEG’s senior director of advocacy, recently interviewed Benjamin Wittes, editor in chief of Lawfare and senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, about the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. Below is a summary of that conversation as well as the full video interview. On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled on presidential immunity in response to former President Trump’s federal indictment. The decision is a historic expansion of presidential immunity, leaving the lower courts with a lot to still determine. Since 1984, the president has had immunity from civil suits for official acts while in office. We have never had a president who…
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Call to Action: Request the Former President Be Held Accountable
After his election defeat, former President Trump lied about the election, repeatedly and with the direct intent to undermine legitimate results and maintain power. The result was not only a horrific attack on our nation’s Capitol building and the deaths and injuries of close to 150 people, but the undermining of American democracy using a big lie as a tool. We expect accountability from the former president just as from the individual citizens who stormed the Capitol. We cannot move toward a more secure future without first recognizing the truth of recent events — and demanding that accountability should stem from that truth. To do: Contact your senators to let…
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Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on Unity and the Second Impeachment of President Trump
Americans are not bound together by race, religion, culture, or even birthright citizenship. Instead, we are unified both under a representative government constrained by rule of law and around a dedication to the preservation of individual rights and freedoms. These principles find their fullest expression in communities of trust built by citizens who understand and observe the responsibilities that accompany those rights. Without this common cause and faith in one another, we descend into moral ambiguity, chaos, and uncertainty. We fear our neighbor and have no common bond. Maintaining the integrity of our unifying ideas should be the highest priority of any principled leader. Events in recent weeks demonstrate the…
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Returning to the Supreme Court: Trump v. Vance and Questions of Presidential Immunity
In July, the Supreme Court issued a decision — Trump v. Vance — on the topic of presidential immunity. In it, a 7-2 vote by the Supreme Court affirmed the long-recognized principle that a sitting president is not above the law but is subject to investigation for criminal conduct and the demand for subpoenas in such an investigation. The Court did leave open the possibility of contesting the subpoenas on more specific terms, which President Trump has done. A lower court ruling was issued on this on October 6, 2020, and the case may return to the Supreme Court. This article will provide a summary of the Supreme Court opinions…
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Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government Condemning White Supremacy
The women of Mormon Women for Ethical Government join together today in a clear and loud expression of faith. White supremacy in all its manifestations is contrary to the will of God. His highest commandments are unequivocal: We are to first love the Lord our God and second love our neighbor as ourselves. This simple and brief direction, when accepted by those with integrity, does not allow for racism, oppression, hatred, violence, or any intimations of racial superiority. Supremacy and equality cannot coexist, either in the sight of God or the law. We have grave concerns that the president’s failure to condemn white supremacy — and his legitimization of white…
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Official Statement From Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the House Impeachment Vote
December 18, 2019 We assert that our most sacred civic expression is the casting of an individual vote. Any president or leader who forces political support and fails to honor and protect the free and legitimate elections on which our republic rests has lost the moral right to govern. By attempting to compel Ukraine to announce investigations benefitting only his re-election efforts, President Trump forced every American taxpayer to become an unwitting contributor to his political campaign and a supporter of his re-election. Regardless of the behavior of any other political actor in either party, the president of the United States is never justified in bringing our common resources and…
