General Discussion

Bundbuster

(3,197 posts) Thu Apr 25, 2024, 05:56 PM Apr 25

Trump Lawyer Says Having Political Rival Killed Could Constitute 'Official' Presidential Act

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/supreme-court-trump-immunity-oral-arguments-1235010538/

So what kind of crimes do the former president’s attorneys think should fall under the umbrella of executive immunity? Pretty much everything, apparently, including political assassinations.

When asked by Justice Sonya Sotomayor during arguments on Thursday if the president deciding “that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military — or he orders someone to assassinate him” would constitute an official act subject to immunity, attorney D. John Sauer said it could.

In another hypothetical, Justice Elena Kagan asked if the president would be immune from prosecution if he sold nuclear secrets to a foreign adversary. Sauer affirmed that the sale was an “official act” the president would need to first be impeached and convicted before he could be prosecuted.

Sauer also claimed under questioning that a president could theoretically be immune from prosecution if he carried out — or attempted to carry out — a coup against the government.

17 replies

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Highlight:

Trump Lawyer Says Having Political Rival Killed Could Constitute 'Official' Presidential Act (Original Post) Bundbuster Apr 25 OP

Was there any discussion about a presidential hit job on SCOTUS judges? Is that an official act? CincyDem Apr 25 #1

Could I be that friend? LiberalFighter Apr 25 #5

Those fkrs don't even believe anyone should have the right to B.See Apr 25 #6

This is what a dictator claims. Killing opponents is an official act. Irish_Dem Apr 25 #2

I would suggest Biden has a clear shot randr Apr 25 #3

When entertainment foreshadows real life sarisataka Apr 25 #4

Trump lawyer is A. An a-hole. B. A liar. C. Demonic devil. Anti-Christ type man. Trueblue1968 Apr 25 #7

The fact that this horrible idea was brought up at all is sickening. Biophilic Apr 25 #8

"I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters." Bundbuster Apr 25 #9

If this theory is correct, could a lame duck President order the assassination no_hypocrisy Apr 25 #10

President Biden may have a green light LetMyPeopleVote Apr 25 #11

Biden could order special forces to abduct Jesse Watters and forced him to watch Rachel Maddow 24/7 for months LetMyPeopleVote Apr 25 #12

Thank you LMPV for perhaps my only laugh of this surreal day. Bundbuster Apr 26 #13

A Proclamation by President Biden👇💯👍✊ /s LetMyPeopleVote Apr 26 #14

Don't know how you did that, but huge recs! Bundbuster Apr 27 #15

That was not my creation. The internet is having fun on this issue LetMyPeopleVote Apr 27 #16

I just noticed that. But max thanks for your countless creative posts. Bundbuster Apr 27 #17

CincyDem

(6,386 posts)

1. Was there any discussion about a presidential hit job on SCOTUS judges? Is that an official act?

Reply to Bundbuster (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:02 PM

Apr 25

Asking for a friend.

LiberalFighter

(51,094 posts)

5. Could I be that friend?

Reply to CincyDem (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:12 PM

Apr 25

Maybe I could be appointed to handle that and reinstate Remo the Destroyer.

B.See

(1,292 posts)

6. Those fkrs don't even believe anyone should have the right to

Reply to CincyDem (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:20 PM

Apr 25

protest outside their homes.

Irish_Dem

(47,435 posts)

2. This is what a dictator claims. Killing opponents is an official act.

Reply to Bundbuster (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:04 PM

Apr 25

Putin does it all the time and doesn't even hide it.

randr

(12,417 posts)

3. I would suggest Biden has a clear shot

Reply to Bundbuster (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:09 PM

Apr 25

sarisataka

(18,774 posts)

4. When entertainment foreshadows real life

Reply to Bundbuster (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:11 PM

Apr 25

Trueblue1968

(17,240 posts)

7. Trump lawyer is A. An a-hole. B. A liar. C. Demonic devil. Anti-Christ type man.

Reply to Bundbuster (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:23 PM

Apr 25

I Hate Them All

Biophilic

(3,694 posts)

8. The fact that this horrible idea was brought up at all is sickening.

Reply to Bundbuster (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:23 PM

Apr 25

What kind of a nation have we become that the idea of a president killing a political rival is considered ok to talk about in public. Not just in public, but in the halls of the Supreme Court. For god’s sake!!! How is this even imagined let alone talked about!!

Bundbuster

(3,197 posts)

9. "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters."

Reply to Bundbuster (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:38 PM

Apr 25

This 2016 campaign statement was just a prelude to normailzing Shitler's dictatorship ~~theory~~ reality.

no_hypocrisy

(46,193 posts)

10. If this theory is correct, could a lame duck President order the assassination

Reply to Bundbuster (Original post)

Thu Apr 25, 2024, 06:58 PM

Apr 25

of his/her successor (someone who beat him in the Election) and be immune from prosecution?

(BTW, having attended and graduated from law school, this sort of hypothetical would be barred.)