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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a press conference at the Capitol on April 23, 2024 in Washington, DC.
CNN
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stood by his past statements that presidents should not enjoy absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office.
After the Supreme Court heard arguments on the issue Thursday, NBC News' Kristen Welker pressed McConnell about his 2021 comments following Donald Trump's second impeachment trial. While McConnell voted overwhelmingly to acquit Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, he accused Trump of inciting the riot and the former president has filed a civil lawsuit. He said he “cannot escape being held accountable” through criminal prosecution. .
“That was my view, but I didn't make that decision,” McConnell said Thursday, referring to the lawsuit currently in court over President Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. He said he filed the lawsuit in an attempt to avoid federal prosecution for his efforts to do so.
“The president obviously needs some kind of immunity or he's going to end up in court all the time. So we'll see how the Supreme Court deals with it,” he said. .
After nearly three hours of oral arguments, the Supreme Court on Thursday appeared poised to reject President Trump's bid for blanket immunity and broad protections sought to end the federal election overturn case. The former president maintains that the actions Smith has accused him of were part of his official duties as president and that he is immune from criminal liability.
The relationship between Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell is strained. CNN reported in January that the two had not spoken in more than three years. Mr. McConnell, who will resign as Senate Republican leader in November, has been at odds with Mr. Trump and other members of his party over support for Ukraine and his willingness to sometimes negotiate with Democrats.
Still, McConnell endorsed Trump in March, just after the former president swept the nation's races on Super Tuesday. McConnell said Trump has “the necessary support of Republican voters” to become the Republican nominee.
“It is no surprise that he has my support as a candidate,” McConnell said in a statement.
CNN's Manu Raju, John Fritze, Tierney Sneed and Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.
