The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments on Trump’s claim of “absolute immunity.” Several news organizations are carrying the arguments live (including the linked article). You can also listen on several YouTube channels, including:

    • kescusay@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      42
      ·
      7 months ago

      And just so people know, Trump’s lawyer is now on record as supporting the idea that the president can order the military to perform a coup and be immune from prosecution.

      • snooggums
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        22
        ·
        7 months ago

        Effectively yes, he did say that staging a coup could be considered official duties of a president and possibly legal. The nuance of his argument is even worse.

        He claims that the lresident is immune from any prosecution unless impeached and removed from office first. So a coup is legal if he is never impeached, including if he is removed from office due to a failed coup either by the transfer of office or resigning. This would of course provide immunity for someone who was leaving office and time was not available to be removed, say for shenanigans in Janurary.

        • dhork@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          18
          ·
          7 months ago

          It also says that the President is immune from anything at all as long as 34 Senators agree to take his side.

          • kescusay@lemmy.worldOP
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            16
            ·
            7 months ago

            Which means he could have senators threatened or murdered, and if he lowers the numbers of senators enough to prevent his conviction, he walks free.

    • jballs@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      7 months ago

      That’s good, but don’t forget that the whole point of this trial was to delay, delay, delay. Even if they lose, they already won.

    • dhork@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      7 months ago

      Right, and the Court could easily release a ruling on the very last possible day in June that gives guidance to lower courts saying exactly that, in such a manner that the rulings on those lower courts are still appealable, and Poof! The Supreme Court hands Trump a resounding loss, in such a manner that delays all of his trials to past Election Day.

  • kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    22
    ·
    7 months ago

    Even if you’re a partisan hack that just wants to give Trump a copout for all his indictments and free reign for Trump to do what he wants if he wins the election, you have to see how stupid it is to make that call BEFORE he wins the election while his opponent is currently in office. Their ruling in his favor would be carte blanche for Biden to do whatever the fuck he wants to Trump, so long as 34 senators would refuse to convict him for it. Or even to the Justices themselves. Up to and including assassination, apparently. They would really be banking on the fact that Democrats would tend to act in good faith while Republicans are free to abuse their power. But that is a big gamble.

  • kescusay@lemmy.worldOP
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    7 months ago

    Trump’s hack is done speaking now. I gotta say, I think he did the best he could with an ultra-shitty argument, but he was unable to disguise the fact that it was ultra-shitty. The Justices absolutely destroyed him.