Morning in case 20 39 39, trump versus United States. Mr. Sour . Mr. Chief justice and may it please the court, without president ial immunity from criminal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know it. For 234 years of american history, no president was ever prosecuted for his official act. The framers of our constitution viewed an energetic executive as essential to securing liberty. If a president can be charged, put on trial and in prison for his most controversial decision as soon as he leaves office, that looming threat will distort the president s decisionmaking precisely when bold and fearless action is most needed. Every current president will face de facto blackmail and extortion by his political rivals while he is still in office. The implications of the courts decision here extend far beyond the facts of this case. Could president george w. Bush have been sent to prison for obstructing an official proceeding or allegedly lying to congress to induce war in iraq . Co
Imal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know. For 234 years ofmecan history, no president was ever prosecuted for h oicial act. The framers of our constitution viedn energetic executive as essential to securing liberty. If a president can be charged, put on trial and in prison f his most controversial decision as soon as he leaves office, that looming threat will distort the president s decisionmaking precisely when bold and fearless action is mo nded. Every currt esident will face de facto blackmail and tortion by his political rivals while he is still i office. E implications of the courts decision here extend fareyd the facts of this case. Could president george w. Bush have been sent to prison for obstructing an official proceedi oallegedly lying to congress to induce war in iraq . Could president obama be charged with murder for killinu. Citizens abroad by drone strike . Could President Biden someday be charged with unlawfully inducing immigran tenter the country illega
There is a possibility they may see some opportunity for some immunity for some president ial decisions. If they decide it that way, it may have to go back down to the District Court which could cause further delay. I appreciate you not being sidetracked by somebody who apparently wants to scream louder than anybody else. Catherine, the lower courts have been unanimous that trump cannot claim immunity. Does that tell you something . I cant imagine theyre going to say a former president has absolute immunity for criminal acts. What will be a win for donald trump is if theyre saying were sending it back to judge chutkan to determine which, if any he would have immunity for and which he would not. Thats a win because that would delay the trial, which is already delayed. So what of course obviously jack smith and Special Counsel is hoping for, a majority of the court will just say, no, absolute immunity from Criminal Prosecution for a former president and clearly jack smith would say this
The Us Supreme Court or historic arguments are about to unfold testing former president Donald Trumps unprecedented claim of absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The hub couldnt determine if the Presumptive Republican president ial nominees federal election subversion trial happens before this year is 2024. Election or at all . Im Kaitlan Collins outside of the high court and im Anderson Cooper over looking at Manhattan Criminal Courthouse while the Supreme Court hears trumps Immunity Case the former president is here in New York City in the midst of His First Criminal Trial For Hush Money Scheme allegedly aimed at helping his 2016 president ial campaign the leadoff witness, former National Enquirer executive david pecker resumes his testimony soon, recovering. Both of these monumental cases in the hours ahead. Im jake tapper in washington and this is cnn Special Coverage, the trump Immunity Battle at the Us Supreme Court ab