This morning, acting quickly on the Supreme Court’s decision granting presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, President Biden robbed the Federal Reserve. A mere 22 hours after the Court’s decision, and accompanied by dozens of armed Secret Service agents, the President, disguised in a black mask and sunglasses, plundered the nation’s bank of all of its cash on hand. While personall directing what he called “a cash withdrawal,” he explained that in accordance with the court’s decision yesterday:
“I’m simply exercising one of the core powers of the presidency which includes assuring that the banking system is acting in the best interests of the nation. I decided that the Federal Reserve was not. Therefore, I am seizing their cash until such time as I decide to give it back.”
Under the Supreme Court holding, the President may engage in what some might call criminal behavior and may not be prosecuted for it after leaving office. Also, it is already established as Department of Justice policy that a president may not be criminally indicted during his tenure. The Supreme Court, however, did not grant carte blanche permission for presidents to act unlawfully and escape prosecution after they leave office. For example, his audacious Federal Reserve heist, might, by some, be considered to be not among his core powers, which include those actions that can only be taken by the president, including the naming of ambassadors, acting as Commander-in-chief, and issuing pardons. Other presidential actions, the Court held, outside of his core powers may be examined by a court to determine whether they are nonetheless within overall presidential powers, and a prosecution of a former president could be brought if his actions are adjudged as “unofficial acts” undertaken, for instance, for personal benefit alone.
President Biden reflected on this immediately after robbing the Federal Reserve of all of its currency on hand, perhaps billions of dollars:
“As president, I have a responsibility to protect the American people from bank fraud. As soon as the court handed down its decision in Trump v. United States, I decided that the Federal Reserve was engaging in bank fraud. Don’t ask why, the court said I don’t have to tell you, but I assure the American people that none of this cash will be used to finance my reelection campaign. Not a penny. So don’t worry. Really. In any event, my borrowing the Federal Reserve’s cash foe safekeeping is well within my powers because as head of the executive branch I’m responsible for a multitude of banking-related agencies. What Republicans may label as a smash-and-grab operation is well within the plethora of official acts which I may undertake. If Mitch McConnell objects take it up with the Supreme Court. Regardless, I will secure this cash in the White House itself, within perhaps the best guarded building in the country for the duration of my time as president which will be until 2029. After that, we’ll see what the Supreme Court has to say.”
It all makes sense to me, and I look forward to President Biden’s next official act, which may occur this very day as the President was heard directing his getaway limousine driver to “head to the U.S. Mint.” Whether pillaging the Federal Reserve is a presidential power or not, at least this caper will take the spotlight off Donald Trump for a news cycle.