Trump Lawyer Argues He Could Legally Order Assassination Of Political Rival ( www.huffpost.com )

Former President Donald Trump’s attorney on Thursday argued that a president could order the assassination of his political rival and stage a military coup without being prosecuted for it.

Jack Sauer, Trump’s lawyer, made the “absolute immunity” argument in a Supreme Court hearing in the Department of Justice election interference case against the former president. Trump’s team has repeatedly claimed that the ex-president can’t be prosecuted for “official acts” he did while in office.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked Sauer, “If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military to assassinate him, is that within his official acts to which he has immunity?”

“That could well be an official act,” Sauer responded.

Sotomayor seemed taken aback at that line of reasoning.

...

“How about if the president orders the military to stage a coup?” Kagan asked.

“I think it would depend on the circumstances,” Sauer said.

HawlSera ,

They're arguing this for a reason

Because Trump wants to get re-elected (and he probably fucking will because Americans are dumbasses and Trump is thrashing Biden in the polls right now) and when he does he's going to assassinate political rivals.

Sterile_Technique ,
@Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world avatar

Huh. Well here's a though: as Biden's last act as president, he should just go ahead and order the assassination of Trump. It'll rid us of Trump, and force the matter into the SCOTUS who will then need to establish precedent case law stating specifically that US presidents aren't allowed to have political rivals assassinated... cuz apparently that's necessary. >_<

IvanOverdrive ,

If I were Biden and the Supreme Court ruled it's legal, first thing I'd do is put Trump and every justice that ruled in favor in a CIA black site. Then I'd stack the court with justices that would rule it was illegal. Because that shit cannot stand.

Crackhappy ,
@Crackhappy@lemmy.world avatar

I mean, there is no legal reason that Biden could not just put forth more candidates for the supreme court, right now.

Edit: The only actual reason is because Biden is a coward.

radix ,
@radix@lemmy.world avatar

There is no constitutional reason it can't be amended, but there is a statutory reason Biden can't act unilaterally on that: the Judiciary Act of 1869 limits the SCOTUS to nine members.

Congress would have to let him.

driving_crooner ,
@driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br avatar

They should have asked if the president can order the assassination of a Supreme Court Judge or a senator. Would love the justification.

radix ,
@radix@lemmy.world avatar

And don't even frame it as a nameless hypothetical. Get specific.

"Are you arguing that Joe Biden could order the assassination of Clarence Thomas and Donald Trump, and if the Democratic Senate doesn't convict on impeachment, he gets away with it?"

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