this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2024
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US presidents cannot be prosecuted for selling pardons or assassinating political rivals through SEAL Team Six, personal Trump lawyer John Sauer argued Tuesday

Advancing a sweeping interpretation of executive immunity, Donald Trump’s attorney told a federal appeals court on Tuesday that U.S. presidents could not be prosecuted for selling pardons or assassinating political rivals through SEAL Team Six.

Trump’s lead attorney D. John Sauer argued that only a president who has been impeached and removed from office in a Senate trial potentially would be subject to prosecution for those kinds of alleged crimes.

A three-judge panel appeared extremely skeptical of Trump’s vision of absolute immunity, sharply questioning and interrupting Sauer during the opening minutes of the oral arguments with the former president himself sitting nearby.

“Could a president order SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival? That’s an official act–an order to Seal Team Six,” U.S. Circuit Judge Florence Pan asked Sauer.

“He would have to be, and would speedily be, you know, impeached and convicted before the criminal prosecution,” Sauer replied, setting a pre-condition for such prosecution in Pan’s hypothetical.

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[–] [email protected] 254 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (8 children)

So this means its open Trump hunting season for Biden, right? It is totally legal and cool for him to assassinate Trump, right??


Of course we all know they intend for this argument to only apply to Trump.

[–] Carighan 64 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Stuff like this is what I wish would happen.

Like the german nazi party desperately wants more people to be evicted from Germany, I say great, evict the AfD politicians and their voters! Wooot! Everyone happy!

[–] [email protected] 60 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Right, when the right wing fuckos trot out their obviously bad-faith arguments, we should be taking to them to their logical fucking conclusions right the fuck away.

It would be beautiful to see the entire Republican wing of the house pissing themselves and losing their shit knowing that an assassin from Biden could get them at any moment. Especially after the first few drop and Biden just says "it's me, it's totally legal and cool, right?" Also making sure to drop the first 20-or-so at the same time so right after it happens the Dems have a majority in both the House and Senate so no Republican can actually bring a vote for impeachment.

They'd be screaming bloody murder because the only thing they actually care about is their own skins.

[–] AbidanYre 17 points 9 months ago

Nah, let them keep a majority in the house. They vote to impeach, the Senate acquits, then he goes for round two...

[–] werefreeatlast 32 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Trump is not a very good walker. Very weak steps. Maybe it will be a sort of accident? Is that the ruzzian way or what?

[–] einlander 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Very weak steps by the very low window in the very tall building.

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[–] FlyingSquid 10 points 9 months ago

I know Elmer always lost, but I still want to see Trump being chased by Biden with a rifle like Elmer Fudd. Real life doesn't have to imitate the cartoon.

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[–] Son_of_dad 96 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Then they're saying it would be legal if Biden assassinated Trump right now.

[–] Godnroc 53 points 9 months ago

Either his actions were treason and the sentence is death or his actions as president were untouchable in which case the president can shoot him without reprise. What a dangerous precedent to set!

[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago

Sounds like these legal arguments are a win-win for anyone who isn't Trump then

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[–] TheDoozer 95 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Here's a better question, Judge Pan.

Could a president order Seal Team Six to assassinate unsympathetic judges, either of an appeals court or the Supreme Court itself, since that's an "official act?" Because that might be something worth considering.

[–] FlyingSquid 10 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

This argument would, in fact, suggest that the president could order a judge assassinated. And I'm guessing the appeals court knows that.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

Like every other grand ol' projection, I believe this should be interpreted as a threat of things to come, not academic speculation.

[–] JustZ 88 points 9 months ago (3 children)

“Could a president order SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival? That’s an official act–an order to Seal Team Six,” U.S. Circuit Judge Florence Pan asked Sauer.

“He would have to be, and would speedily be, you know, impeached and convicted before the criminal prosecution,” Sauer replied, setting a pre-condition for such prosecution in Pan’s hypothetical.

Unless it's a Republican, he means.

This is their plan for every election, administrative, and legal matter: let Congress decide.

A body they can buy bribe and beleaguer.

[–] AbouBenAdhem 46 points 9 months ago

This is their plan for every election, administrative, and legal matter: let Congress decide.
A body they can buy bribe and beleaguer.

Or “legally” assassinate opposing members before the impeachment vote.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 9 months ago (1 children)

“He would have to be, and would speedily be, you know, impeached and convicted before the criminal prosecution,” Sauer replied, setting a pre-condition for such prosecution in Pan’s hypothetical.

It's so hilarious that this is the response. Just like Republicans "speedily" impeached Trump after he mounted an insurrection?

[–] Evilcoleslaw 15 points 9 months ago

It's even worse as the President could dial up air strikes on the Capitol to kill them all and it's all very legal and very cool.

[–] Evilcoleslaw 23 points 9 months ago (2 children)

“He would have to be, and would speedily be, you know, impeached and convicted before the criminal prosecution,”

Then he could assassinate them all, continually, until Congress is packed with people so afraid they'll be killed if they step out of line and there's no legal recourse. Just like the Founding Fathers intended...

[–] JustZ 8 points 9 months ago

Obviously the intent of the founding fathers and the people is that insurrectionists cannot be permitted on a ballot, not by any officer of any court or state.

It's the same as the Fourth Amendment. If the prohibition on warrantless search and seizure has any meaning at all, it is a command to every law officer, attorney, and judge, as to how they must do their part of their job in the matter, and that rule is that: if the constable blunders, the criminal must go free. The remedy is implied by the text, because if it's not the text doesn't mean shit.

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[–] cabron_offsets 76 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 45 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The fascists saying the fascist shit out loud

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[–] paddirn 64 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Man, why did Nixon even bother resigning? Why was Clinton or Trump even impeached? They were obviously immune from ever doing anything wrong, ever. The Presidency exists completely outside of the normal checks and balances in our government, the President can just do whatever they want.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago

Well being President is sort of like being a Star. And as well all know, if you're a Star they let you do it. Orange Julius was talking about underage pageant contestants at the time, but I think the same principle applies here.

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[–] [email protected] 58 points 9 months ago (1 children)

he can go live in Russia if that's the kind of "President" he wants

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[–] Lemminary 52 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The US really needs to sit down and decide what the president can and cannot do. It won't be the last time magats try this shit.

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[–] [email protected] 36 points 9 months ago

Completely fucking insane...

[–] [email protected] 31 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Pan reframed the question to include a hypothetical where a president ordered assassination and then was not impeached, and Sauer still hung on to "impeachment has to happen first."

[–] [email protected] 53 points 9 months ago (1 children)

So Biden hunting down the entire GOP House for sport is up for grabs, then. It's not a coup, it's part of his official duties!

[–] [email protected] 30 points 9 months ago (1 children)

This is exactly one of the scenarios that Jack Smith offered as an example of why this kind of immunity is ridiculous.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I'll just say that I have more hope and faith in Jack Smith than I was ever able to muster for fucking Robert Mueller, who had his own shady history with the railroading of Bruce Ivins over the Anthrax scare in the Bush era.

To my knowledge, despite the mountains of evidence to prove that Ivins was not "their man" the FBI continues to hold that they were correct.

Smith has proven himself to be a more serious contender than Mueller.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If we have to debate this much whether or not a President should stand trial for criminal charges, I think he did it.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 9 months ago

, I think he did it.

At this point, we're way past that line of the narcissist's prayer

[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago

An individual allowed to do anything without consequence is a dictator, not a president.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

And so after years upon years upon decades of rhetoric from Republicans warning about the growing power of the Executive and the abuses of the Executive by FDR...

... uh, nevermind all that apparently, if our guy is in charge he should be able to just unilaterally assasinate political rivals.

You know. Like anyone that would vote to impeach him. For assassinating political rivals.

This is literal baby brain logic that actual Elementary School Children could probably understand is stupid.

Hooray for living in Clown World, the dumbest possible timeline.

This is basically logic that can only possibly have come from serious QTard Syndrome, Terminal Stage. Its the only way possible for /the Storm/ to actually happen.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 9 months ago (1 children)

So did the USA become a joke during 45's presidency or before?

[–] LaunchesKayaks 29 points 9 months ago
[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Can a lawyer be disbarred for advocating for the dissolution of the Rule of Law?

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Seal team six perched in the rafters during the state of the union address.

Biden: And now I will receive a round of applause from my good Republican colleagues. Clap, motherfuckers!

[–] [email protected] 16 points 9 months ago

Which is why it's a batshit insane idea.

[–] AllonzeeLV 15 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Remember, his base sees this as strength.

They don't care about the means, they want a "strongman" to kill the Americans they see as their enemies for them.

Modern Republicans don't give a two shilling shit about democracy, they'd rather have an authoritarian so long as it's an authoritarian they're deluded into believing represents their interests.

Just in case anyone thinks these remarks might make him lose a single vote.

[–] badaboomxx 13 points 9 months ago

I agree, and at the same time I wonder what the current president could fix the issue with the former? I mean, the current president has immunity right? /s

[–] Smacks 11 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Trump is literally scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to attorneys

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[–] Zoots 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Trump’s lead attorney D. John Sauer argued that only a president who has been impeached and removed from office in a Senate trial potentially would be subject to prosecution for those kinds of alleged crimes

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

Which law is that written in again?

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