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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on “Meet the Press” Thursday that he stands by his previous statements that “former presidents are not immune.” [held] On the same day, the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether former President Donald Trump has presidential immunity in election interference cases.
Senate Minority: 'President Trump remains responsible for everything he did while in office' … [+]
important facts
“President Trump is still responsible for everything he did while in office…he still hasn't gotten away with anything,” McConnell told NBC's Kristin Welker on Thursday, speaking shortly after Jan. 6. He said he supports that comment. NBC reports.
McConnell endorsed Trump last month despite a long-standing feud with the former president, but said this was just his view of the situation and “the courts will decide.” He softened his words.
In 2021, after Trump was impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate, McConnell addressed the January 6 attack on the Capitol, saying, “Trump has virtually no moral responsibility for causing the events of that day.'' “We have a personal responsibility,'' he said, adding that he had voted in favor. Trump was acquitted because he did not believe he was “constitutionally entitled to be convicted,” NPR reported.
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The Supreme Court on Thursday heard arguments regarding a claim of “presidential immunity” in federal criminal charges against Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election. Mr. Trump's lawyer, D. John Sauer, who was not present because Mr. Trump is in New York trial in a hush-money case, said the president has complete immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions while in office. He claimed to have been given it. Asked by Justice Sonia Sotomayor whether that included immunity for things like ordering the military to assassinate political opponents, Sauer said it depends on the circumstances. Meanwhile, the Justice Department and Special Counsel Jack Smith argued that the president has no “general right” to violate the law and that Trump's claims are “baseless.” No clear agreement was reached after arguments, but the court signaled it could further delay Trump's federal trial as it considers whether he has presidential immunity.
Main background
President Trump has argued for months that he has presidential immunity in both criminal and civil trials, but no court has accepted this claim. After district judges and appellate judges in Smith's federal election interference case rejected his immunity claims, Trump asked the Supreme Court to hear arguments, and the court agreed in late February. There is no precedent as to whether a former president will face criminal charges for actions committed during his time in office. In the federal election interference case, Trump is charged with four felonies: conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States, conspiracy to obstruct official business and conspiracy to violate rights. Trump has maintained his innocence and said the case, like others he faces, is a politically motivated act of election interference aimed at damaging his presidential campaign. .
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