The United States used to be held up as a great example of a mature democracy under the rule of law. We had our issues, God knows, (exceptionalism!) but we weren’t seen as a lawless autocracy.
Today we are an inspiration for autocrats around the world:
The legal team of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed Friday that Yoon’s impeachment trial does not warrant a ruling as he should have immunity from prosecution, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Donald Trump.
In a document presented to the Constitutional Court in Yoon’s impeachment trial, the legal team said Yoon exercised his due presidential power to handle a “national emergency situation” while declaring martial law on Dec. 3.
“As martial law was lifted in six hours, it did not restrict the people’s basic rights,” the document read. “Things were fully restored so that there is no need to judge the declaration itself.”
Yoon’s side pointed to the U.S. court ruling in July last year that said Trump cannot be prosecuted for actions that were within his constitutional powers as president.
The Supreme Court majority must be so proud.
Yoon’s supporters chanted “Stop The Steal!” as did the supporters of jair Bolsonaro in Brazil in 2022. Trump’s an inspiration for weird, red-pilled wingnuts everywhere.