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

submitted 7 months ago by Emperor@feddit.uk to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world

44 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

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[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 98 points 7 months ago (4 children)

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

[–] radix@lemmy.world 101 points 7 months ago (3 children)

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?"

[–] zib@kbin.melroy.org 47 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I would pay good money for one of them to ask that exact question, but sadly, I'm a little too poor to buy my own SCOTUS justice. Maybe we could start a gofundme and crowdsource it?

[–] Duit@lemmy.world 10 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I got 5 on it

[–] realbadat@programming.dev 11 points 7 months ago

I'd put in the remaining $5 needed for Thomas to be bought