Sotomayor: If the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military to assasinate him, is that within his official acts to which he has immunity?

“That could well be an official act,” Trump lawyer John Sauer says

  • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    we’re all supposed to sit here and entertain its plausibility.

    We’re all here because more than one of these judges is entertaining its plausibility. Listening to some of the questions coming from a couple of these judges, there is a very real possibility that they actually declare Trump at least partially immune, leading to the lower courts having to re-litigate the issues again (which would delay Trump’s trials by years), or outright giving him enough immunity to make his current cases go away.

    It’s important to note that this would include the state cases. If Trump were to return to office, he could in theory pardon himself and make the federal cases go away but can’t do anything about the state ones. If the SC were to rule he’s immune, the state courts can’t touch him either.

    Honestly, I think the judges are just trying to figure out how they can rule narrowly enough to make sure Trump walks away scot-free while also ensuring that Biden and other future presidents don’t get the same treatment.

    • eric5949@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Trump was not president for the crimes in NY or the retention of documents AFTER he was president. Of course it’ll be delayed and litigated, but “president is immune” does not make trumps problems go away unless they go “president is immune for the rest of their lives” which is even more insane.

      • nilloc
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        6 months ago

        unless they go “president is immune for the rest of their lives” which is even more insane.

        Alito pretty much did argue that.

        He said presidents won’t leave office peacefully if they aren’t able to retire to security without threats of prosecution.

    • Bipta@kbin.social
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      6 months ago

      4 justices have to vote to hear a case at the Supreme Court. I don’t understand why they’d ever choose to.

    • bean@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Why not have Biden just assassinate Trump then? He likely wouldn’t have to deal with a long drawn out court decision. He can be done with it and move on. It’s horrible to consider, but I’m so so so so so so so so so sick of Trump. Everyday I’m bombarded with orange pulp. 😆

      • Serinus@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Just put them in a jail. And put enough Republican congresspeople in jail to have the majority. And then declare they can leave as soon as a bill is passed making the stupid “immunity” shit illegal.

        You can demonstrate the issues without killing anyone.

      • Goku@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        The kicker for the immunity is that he can be impeached and convicted by congress…

        So you’re only immune if you’re a republican and you have enough votes in the senate… Lord knows Democrats would convict each other but republicans will toe the line.