Former President Trump’s legal team suggested Tuesday that even a president directing SEAL Team Six to kill a political opponent would be an action barred from prosecution given a former executive&…

Former President Trump’s legal team suggested Tuesday that even a president directing SEAL Team Six to kill a political opponent would be an action barred from prosecution given a former executive’s broad immunity to criminal prosecution.

The hypothetical was presented to Trump attorney John Sauer who answered with a “qualified yes” that a former president would be immune from prosecution on that matter or even on selling pardons.

  • Telorand
    67·
    6 months ago

    They are also praying to their god that the Appellate Court has no knowledge of the “color of office” argument. Assassinations of US citizens is most definitely beyond the scope of presidential duties, and to accept otherwise is to accept that the president is a king.

    • prole@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      8·
      6 months ago

      I agree completely… that said, not to be that guy, but didn’t Obama drone strike one or two American citizens while in power?

      • Telorand
        19·
        6 months ago

        He killed four. Three were accidental, one was a literal terrorist helping to plan attacks on American targets. None were on American soil.

        I’m undecided if the terrorist one deserves the rights awarded by the fifth amendment, but as for the other three, it’s not like he went out of his way to target them.

        Trump’s lawyers, on the other hand, are essentially arguing that the president can do what he wants to whomever he wants, even on American soil. It’s like it’s straight from Putin’s mouth.

    • nilloc@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      5·
      6 months ago

      To add, would selling pardons not be covered under the emoluments clause, at the very least?

      Even though it wasn’t even remotely enforced.