This has actually about Trump having to turn over his tax returns to the Manhattan DA’s office under a grand jury request….
But this being Trump?
His lawyers are trying to get the Federal Courts to pass down rulings that an American President can do ANYTHING ILLEGAL and NOT be charged with a crime….
That would include murder or even selling out his OWN government in broad daylight ….
This WOULD make a President truly ‘above the law’ and more of a King then just a mere mortal….
The concept would checkmate the ability of a New York City cop being able to arrest one Donald Trump irregardless of his job title for shooting that person on Broadway in plain sight as Trump has boasted he COULD do and get away with….
Even if President Donald Trump shot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue, New York authorities could not punish him while he is in office, the president’s lawyers argued Wednesday.
Attorneys for Trump made the claim while arguing before a federal appeals court in their suit against Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, who has subpoenaed Trump’s tax returns.
Trump is fighting the subpoena on the grounds that as president, he has absolute immunity from criminal indictment or investigation. His attorney said that would block Trump from being arrested and charged even if he followed through on his campaign trail claim: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldn’t lose any voters, okay?”
Attorney William Consovoy argued that New York authorities would have to wait until the president was out of office to arrest and charge him for that crime. The DA’s office argued the claim was a fabrication.
“Once a president is removed from office, any local authority” could prosecute him, Consovoy told a panel of three judges from the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. “This is not a permanent immunity.”
Judge Denny Chin pressed him on how the crime would be handled while Trump remained in office. “Nothing could be done, that’s your position?” he said.
“That is correct,” Consovoy replied.
The Manhattan DA subpoenaed eight years of Trump’s tax returns from his accounting firm, Mazars USA, as part of a probe into hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
Federal Judge Victor Marrero threw out Trump’s suit seeking to block the subpoena, finding his “extraordinary” claim to be immune from criminal investigation was not supported by the law.
Trump appealed, and the subpoena was put on hold as the case is heard. The sides made oral arguments Wednesday before the Second Circuit.
The case is expected to ultimately make its way to the Supreme Court. Trump’s attorneys and the DA’s office made an agreement that if Trump loses in the appeals court, Vance will hold off on enforcing the subpoena as long as Trump makes his appeal to the Supreme Court within 10 days….
Fifth Avenue and Broadway are different, right?
The Broadway argument might be that he could engage in a duel with the actor that is playing Alexander Hamilton.
Article from Rich Lowry on why Republicans will never abandon Trump
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/10/24/the-fantasy-of-republicans-ditching-trump-229879
I point to the Access Hollywood tape as why I don’t truat Republicans to abandon Trump. They didn’t then because if they did it was certain defeat.
Lowry makes acsimilar argument here. You can’t trust the GOP to sacrifice certain electoral defeat for their souls.
Thry didn’t do it 3 years ago. Why would they start now?
I find the logic behind that very far-fetched.
It is a fear tactic. He is suggesting that somehow if Trump is abandoned, Republicans will step aside and allow Bernie Sanders and AOC to take over. There’s just no logical basis to assume that would happen.
If people are willing to abide Trump (regardless of whatever), they would do the same for whatever replaces him.
In 2016 many Republicans in office or candidates did refuse to vote for Trump, especially after Access Hollywood, and while some went back on that pledge before the election, many others did not.
Also, if Republicans are in a position when it is clear they will lose with Trump, nothing else matters. Even if they fear they will lose without him, they have a long-term choice for the future to make. Take the loss now and win in the future.
Lowry is saying that Trump should be allowed to hold the party hostage for perpetuity.
If he is that weak-willed, that’s on him.
I agree with the crux of Lowry’s article and it is similar to the argument I have been making here.
The Republicans are stuck with Trump until he is either defeated or removes himself from the scene ,but asking them to vote to remove him from office via the impeachment route?
That simply isn’t going to happen.Lowry and ,amusingly , I have a better finger on the pulse of today’s Republican Party than you do.
While you are “wishing ” for Republicans to “do the right thing?”They are gauging their political lives and the Republican Party now.
The future that you speak of?They see that as a discussion for a later time.
Right now?They live or die by Trump and will continue to unless and until a major portion of the Republican electorate says otherwise.I don’t see that happening.Apparently either you do or are “wishing” it will.
Good luck with that.
Most Republican politicians who disavowed Trump after Access Hollywood wound up supporting him in the end. A few stuck to their guns. Most did not. Fool me once.