Donald Trump suggested in an all caps rant Thursday that a president who “cross the line” should be immune from prosecution.
“A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MUST HAVE FULL IMMUNITY, WITHOUT WHICH IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM/HER TO PROPERLY FUNCTION. ANY MISTAKE, EVEN IF WELL INTENDED, WOULD BE MET WITH ALMOST CERTAIN INDICTMENT BY THE OPPOSING PARTY AT TERM END. EVEN EVENTS THAT “CROSS THE LINE” MUST FALL UNDER TOTAL IMMUNITY, OR IT WILL BE YEARS OF TRAUMA TRYING TO DETERMINE GOOD FROM BAD,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website.
He continued: “THERE MUST BE CERTAINTY. EXAMPLE: YOU CAN’T STOP POLICE FROM DOING THE JOB OF STRONG & EFFECTIVE CRIME PREVENTION BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GUARD AGAINST THE OCCASIONAL “ROGUE COP” OR “BAD APPLE.” SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH “GREAT BUT SLIGHTLY IMPERFECT.” ALL PRESIDENTS MUST HAVE COMPLETE & TOTAL PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY, OR THE AUTHORITY & DECISIVENESS OF A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WILL BE STRIPPED & GONE FOREVER. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE AN EASY DECISION. GOD BLESS THE SUPREME COURT!”
Trump was indicted on four charges related to his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The charges including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction, and conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted. He has pleaded not guilty.
Trump’s comments come as the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals consider whether he has immunity from criminal charges for acts he committed while in office.
Trump’s attorney, John Sauer argued in court last Tuesday that a president should not face prosecution unless convicted by the Senate in an impeachment trial even if he ordered the assassination of his political opponents.
If the D.C. Circuit rules against Trump and allows the prosecution to proceed, his legal team will appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court where Trump nominated three of the six conservative justices that make up the majority on the right-wing court.
