His immunity defense isn’t merely a legal argument. He’s priming his base to back wanton lawbreaking if he wins back the White House.
His immunity defense isn’t merely a legal argument. He’s priming his base to back wanton lawbreaking if he wins back the White House.
If a president cannot be charged with crime other than through impeachment: Presidency changes hands at noon on January 20th following election. Outgoing president murders incoming president minutes before inauguration. No path for impeachment, therefore get off Scott-free.
You don’t even need that. The argument is that the president can’t be charged until after he been impeached by the House, convicted by the Senate, and removed from office - then be can be impeached.
So, they’ve said he can order the SEALs to kill a political opponent. Let’s say he does that. The House brings impeachment charges - well, it sure sounds like the guy who brought the charges is a political opponent, take him out. Other members of the opposition party might bring charges, so take them out. And hey, if we take out some of the “insufficiently loyal” members of our own party, we can ensure there isn’t the quorum needed to impeach!
If it does somehow get through to the Senate, there’s nothing to stop us doing the same thing with the Senate. And even if we’re convicted, there’s nothing to prevent us from ordering in troops to protect from those people who would try to remove us from office.
See? No need to wait for specific timing on specific dates - just do whatever you want, then kill anyone who tries to oppose you, easy peasy!