Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sharply criticized a recent Supreme Court ruling that expands presidential authority to remove members of independent federal agencies. In an interview published Thursday with Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias, Clinton described the court’s decision as “nonsensical” and argued that it represents a significant regression in constitutional interpretation.
The ruling in question stems from a case involving Rebecca Slaughter, a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission who was fired by President Donald Trump without cause. By backing the president, the Supreme Court overturned a 1935 legal precedent that previously protected the independence of such agencies. Clinton noted that the decision appeared inconsistent with the court’s simultaneous ruling allowing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook to retain her position.
“What we’ve got is a full court attack on fundamental principles of constitutional law, judicial precedent, of long-standing norms and interpretation,” Clinton stated. She urged the Democratic Party to adopt a more strategic, long-term approach to judicial matters, citing the influence of the Federalist Society on the current conservative majority of the court.
In unrelated news, Clinton made an unadvertised appearance at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, where she narrated Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait during a private event with the Arcadia Symphony, marking the 250th anniversary of American music.