Former president Donald Trumpâs lawyer argued that presidential immunity would cover the U.S. president ordering political rivals to be assassinated by SEAL Team Six.
During a hearing at a federal appeals court on Tuesday, Trumpâs lead lawyer John Sauer made a sweeping argument for executive immunity, essentially saying that only a president who has been impeached and removed from office by Congress could be criminally prosecuted. Therefore, Sauer argued, the former president should be shielded from criminal prosecution.
One of the judges asked Sauer: âCould a president who ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival, and is not impeached, would he be subject to criminal prosecution?â
Sauer responded: âIf he were impeached and convicted first... there is a political process that would have to occur.â
The court is considering an appeal in Trumpâs election obstruction case after the trial judge already rejected these same arguments about the scope of presidential immunity.
Assistant special counsel James Pearce urged the panels of judges to reject Trumpâs argument. âNever in our nationâs history until this case has a president claimed that immunity from criminal prosecution extends beyond his time in office,â he told the court. All three of the judges expressed skepticism about Trumpâs legal argument, repeatedly grilling his lawyer on the immunity claims.
The outcome of the arguments is expected to have major implications for Trumpâs 2024 bid.