WATCH: Biden Says He Wouldn't Stand In The Way Of A Trump Prosecution
Source: NPR
Joe Biden says that he believes prosecuting a former president would be a "very unusual thing and probably not very ... good for democracy," but he would not stand in the way of a future Justice Department pursuing criminal charges against President Trump after he leaves office.
The comments from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee came during a virtual interview Tuesday with members from the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
"Look, the Justice Department is not the president's private law firm. The attorney general is not the president's private lawyer. I will not interfere with the Justice Department's judgment of whether or not they think they should pursue the prosecution of anyone that they think has violated the law," Biden told NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro.
Trump has been connected with alleged illegal activity by his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen and investigators working for former special counsel Robert Mueller. What isn't clear is whether federal authorities are investigating the president or whether prosecutors might take action against Trump if he no longer enjoyed the privileges that protect him from being indicted as a sitting president.
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2020/08/06/899375561/biden-says-he-wouldnt-stand-in-the-way-of-a-trump-prosecution
Botany
(70,281 posts)"Biden Says He Wouldn't Stand In The Way Of A Trump Prosecution"
"Look, the Justice Department is not the president's private law firm. The attorney general is not the president's private lawyer."
Bleacher Creature
(11,235 posts)Qutzupalotl
(14,230 posts)since the NRA knowingly funneled Russian money to GOP campaigns. Maria Butina, Paul Erickson and a host of others are all tied up in this. Im guessing there are racketeering charges coming.
Bleacher Creature
(11,235 posts)The NRA is completely intertwined with Trump and his connections with Russia. This is still great news.
Botany
(70,281 posts)The NRA funneled 10s of millions of Russian money into the Trump campaign and into
lots of Republican Senate campaigns in 2016.
Bleacher Creature
(11,235 posts)If Trump wasn't so corrupt, going after the NRA would be one of the best possible outcomes.
FoxNewsSucks
(10,375 posts)But WTH?? Prosecuting crimes of MF45's scale would "not be good for democracy"???????????
Letting criminals off the hook since Nixon is what got us in this disaster.
It's a good thing Biden's not a criminal, if republicons somehow get the chance, there will be no "privileges that protect him from being indicted as a sitting president." They'd hold months of hearings and indict him over an unpaid parking ticket.
NYC Liberal
(20,132 posts)outright saying "I am going to order the prosecution of this person."
He is going to let the Justice Department pursue the cases it thinks are worth pursuing, whoever it is. He's not going to interfere one way or the other. That's the right approach.
FoxNewsSucks
(10,375 posts)is not a good thing for a decent person to say. The best answer is, as you say, to let the AG and prosecutors make a case and move forward if warranted. That's all that needed to be said.
But the full sentence from the NPR article, the lead sentence is
Joe Biden says that he believes prosecuting a former president would be a "very unusual thing and probably not very ... good for democracy," but he would not stand in the way of a future Justice Department pursuing criminal charges against President Trump after he leaves office.
That's why I read it the way I did. NPR may have misquoted Biden
NYC Liberal
(20,132 posts)and he says clearly that he would let the Justice Department pursue whatever cases it thought best, but him saying he will or wont prosecute specific people isnt good.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)a political rival would be seen as a partisan misuse of the DOJ - like Trump is trying to do with Obama with "ObamaGate."
He would not stop the DOJ from determining on it's own that a former POTUS did break the law.
Response to ehrnst (Reply #9)
ehrnst This message was self-deleted by its author.
KPN
(15,585 posts)What compounds the issue in tRump's case is the breadth, magnitude and significance of the potential crimes coupled with the rabidness of his supporters who make up perhaps 30-40% of the population. It's a dicey call when it comes to the good of our nation. I tend to come down on the side of investigate and hold accountable as appropriate for the good of the nation long-run.
jaxexpat
(6,699 posts)It won't be easy but it will be good for the majority and will take the onus of enforcement off the executive branch.
No more character assassinating fishing expeditions disguised as crime fighting. Republicans aren't as harmful when they are only allowed to use facts. When restricted to facts spoken in a truthful manner, lest they be prosecuted, they will need to transform. Like a shock collar changes the attitude of a misbehaving dog. They might even pass for upright citizens some day.
This really does need to be a focus of the new administration. One of many, but certainly onbe of highest priority regarding future national security in my view at least.
calimary
(80,693 posts)or "this is no time to look back. Let's move FORWARD!"
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!
We CANNOT move forward if we have not sought justice for some EPIC crimes and scandals and corruption, the likes of which we have never seen before in American history.
"We CANNOT move forward if we have not sought justice for some EPIC crimes and scandals and corruption, the likes of which we have never seen before in American history."
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,773 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)The DOJ can do this on their own, without direction from or interference by the WH, and that prevents the accusation of "Biden's partisan witch hunt."
We've seen what happens when a POTUS uses the DOJ as their personal attorney, and we need to restore the confidence of the public in the Executive Branch and the DOJ's ability to function appropriately in a Democracy.
Trump has numerous lawsuits and criminal charges awaiting him from various entities upon his exit from the WH.
Let them bleed him dry, and let the DOJ focus on police reform and recovering from the Trump administrations gutting it of career experts.
THEN, when all those other legal issues have resolved - hopefully in the seizure of his properties and guilty charges - the DOJ should come in with the last nails in the coffin.
KPN
(15,585 posts)and prosecution from any source as apolitical. We are truly between a rock and a very hard place. We've been put there by the GOP. They are the culprits who need to be held accountable. tRump's presidency would likely never have occurred and certainly would never survived without the GOPs total and complete complicity.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)based on Trump's overreach.
Biden is stating that he will not interfere. That's what a POTUS who is not using the Constitution as toilet paper does.
KPN
(15,585 posts)involved nor directing any investigation(s). At the same time, I think the wingnuts are going to accuse him of carrying out a political vendetta regardless. But that just reinforces what you are saying -- give them nothing ammo-wise, steer clear, let the government and specifically the DOJ function the way it normally would.
KPN
(15,585 posts)great solution, but only one has the chance of securing the fundamentals of our Constitution and therefore our long range national security as far as being a true democracy that strives for if not always guarantees justice for all. And that one is as you stated -- investigate, prosecute and hold accountable/penalize as appropriate.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)That kind of puppet DOJ is what we have now.
KPN
(15,585 posts)disappointed and upset if the DOJ under a Democratic administration did not investigate crimes purportedly committed by the tRump administration.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)KPN
(15,585 posts)ehrnst
(32,640 posts)KPN
(15,585 posts)with your take and sentiment regarding his statement.
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)CARES act money accounting and prosecutions. None of the crap that Obama said about "coming together". We see where that got america
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)going after a criminal.
The POTUS must remain out of it. As Biden said, he would not interfere with any investigation that the DOJ decided to go forward with.
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)corrupt. That is a misuse of power, as we have seen so clearly in this administration, and we do NOT want to set that precedent.
The WH not stopping the DOJ from doing this on their own is appropriate.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,361 posts)Someone like Preet Bahara for example.
Let the Independent Counsel do an unrestrained investigation and prosecution of all Trump administration crimes.
It will be an essential component in restoring the soul of America.
SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)yaesu
(8,020 posts)PatrickforO
(14,514 posts)I'm ecstatic to hear this!
What a wonderful thing! And I respectfully beg to disagree with Joe - prosecuting Trump would be GOOD for democracy - over the callous refusal to make a coordinated national response to COVID-19 because it was hitting blue states hardest, and over the inhuman separations of children from their parents by ICE, not to mention the massive corruption and cronyism and probably dozens of other crimes by he and his crime family and their criminal administration.
Oh, this is so good!
What is it Jagger says? It's time for dancing in the streets! I'll tell you, when Trump loses, there WILL be massive public celebrations. Spontaneous ones. But definitely dancing. We've gone through a long, evil tunnel and now we can see light at the end of it!
I'm so happy to hear this!
KPN
(15,585 posts)investigations and appropriate steps taken -- prosecution as well as legislation to strengthen our ability to avoid and withstand such blatant attacks against our Constitution and democracy in the future.
A big THANK YOU to NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro for asking this question -- at last!
dalton99a
(81,062 posts)Response to UpInArms (Original post)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
not_the_one
(2,227 posts)If there is no accountability, the Democratic Party, and this country, are done.
Sounds very ominous.
TruckFump
(5,812 posts)And for Prez Biden to do this, absolutely the right thing in support of American democracy.
Also: And I smile over this...it let's Trump know how stupid it was to wrongfully and without cause attack someone's child solely for his own political gain.
Politicub
(12,163 posts)personal law firm.
Steelrolled
(2,022 posts)I wouldn't want to see it in any political setting. It would just be another Trump circus. The political mechanism (i.e. election) will take care of Trump.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,481 posts)through the proper channels. Or we can grow up as a country.