Pressed in court, Trump’s lawyers made an argument that would destroy nearly all limitations on presidential power.
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In a hearing before the D.C. Circuit Court, the former president’s lawyers argued that he should be immune from criminal prosecution for his role in the attempt to steal the 2020 presidential election. This argument has an obvious flaw: It implies that the president is above the law. Such a blunt rejection of the Constitution and the basic concept of American democracy is too much even for Trump to assert—publicly, at least—so his lawyers have proposed a theory. They say that he can’t be criminally prosecuted unless he is first impeached and convicted by Congress.
This argument is no less dangerous, as a hypothetical asked in court demonstrated in chilling terms. Judge Florence Pan asked Trump’s attorney, D. John Sauer, if “a president who ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival” could be criminally prosecuted. Sauer tried to hem and haw his way through an answer but ultimately stated that such a president couldn’t be prosecuted unless he was first impeached, convicted, and removed by Congress.
“But if he weren’t, there would be no criminal prosecution, no criminal liability for that?” Pan pressed. Sauer had no choice but to agree, because acknowledging any exceptions would have blown a hole in his argument.
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What lawyers say in court is not the same as what politicians say or will do in office, but no normal politician would allow such an argument to be made on his behalf, especially while sitting in the courtroom. Trump did because his mentality is victory at all costs—winning the present legal case, but also anything else. Trump has already made clear that he wishes to punish his political opponents, and once he discovers the possibility of some power, he is seldom able to resist trying it. Today’s legal argument could very well be next year’s exercise of presidential power.
We all know Republicans would immediately start arguing for the highest levels of accountability if a Democrat did anything criminal.
Biden loans his son money and his son pays it back. Republicans: “THIS IS AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE AND BIDEN SHOULD BE IMPRISONED FOR LIFE!!!”
Trump literally advocates for assassinating his political rivals in the same week that he appears in Epstein’s fight logs. Republicans: “Trump was obviously sent from God to lead us and should be able to do whatever he wants with absolute immunity! Including killing anyone he wants dead!!! MAGA!”
yep, and this is one of the arguments that bothers me the most. I’ve had numerous discussions with republicans that go something along the lines of “well both sides do it” or “it’s only because a republican did it” and that drives me up a wall. It’s like i don’t hate political assholes that do stupid stuff because they’re republican. I just hate political assholes who do stupid stuff… democrat or republican i don’t care. If there’s proof that they did stupid illegal crap, they should all be punished. i don’t get why this is difficult to grasp lol.
Right. For example, the Epstein fight logs show Bill Clinton and Donald Trump on the plane. If there’s evidence that either one did illegal stuff, I say imprison both of them. (I’d call the flight logs suspicious activity enough to open an investigation, but by itself not enough proof to result in a criminal conviction.)
Did I like Bill Clinton as a politician? In general, yes. There was plenty of stuff that I didn’t like about him, but I voted for him for his second term. (I was too young for his first term, but would have voted for him if I was older.) Still, my general feeling that he was a decent President doesn’t mean I think he should get away with criminal activities.
Yet, there are so many Republicans that literally don’t care what Trump has done. A video could come out definitively proving that Trump had sex with underage girls and even if his supporters accepted it as true, they’d still support him. The modern Republican party is a cult and it’s scary.
Way more accountability. They want Democrats held accountable for things Republicans do - it’s a projection thing they have.