Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has firmly reiterated his stance that former presidents do not have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, a hot-button issue as the Supreme Court considers the case of Trump v. United States. McConnell’s consistent viewpoint comes at a critical time when the highest court in the nation deliberates on whether Donald Trump, as a former president, is entitled to broad immunity from federal prosecution.
During a recent interview on “Face the Nation,” McConnell was asked if he still believed that former presidents were not completely immune from prosecution, as he had previously stated. McConnell affirmed, “Let’s put it this way. I addressed that issue on February the 13th” of 2021, “… And January the 6th of 2021. I stand by everything I said then. Obviously, it’ll be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether I was correct.”
Despite the ongoing legal battle and his public endorsement of Trump as the Republican nominee for president, McConnell has not shied away from expressing his belief that the justice system should hold former presidents accountable when necessary. He voted to acquit Trump during the impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 Capitol assault, but noted that Trump “didn’t get away with anything yet.” McConnell emphasized, “We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being accountable by either one.”
Trump and McConnell have a tense relationship. According to CNN in January, they had not communicated in over three years. McConnell, set to relinquish his role as the Senate’s Republican leader in November, has clashed with Trump and fellow party members on issues like Ukraine aid and his occasional openness to negotiating with Democrats.
McConnell, despite endorsing Trump for president, has maintained a measured approach regarding the legal proceedings. When asked about fact-checking or influencing Trump’s messaging, particularly on issues like Russia and Ukraine, McConnell deflected, “I’m not going to give any advice to our candidate in the — in the presidential election,” focusing instead on his efforts in the Senate.
While the Supreme Court deliberates, Trump’s criminal trial in Washington, D.C., for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection is on hold. A decision could come as late as July. The political landscape remains tense and uncertain, particularly with McConnell’s impending departure from his Senate leadership role and the fast-approaching 2024 presidential election.
Relevant articles:
– McConnell says he stands by past statement that ex-presidents are “not immune” from prosecution, cbsnews.com, 04/29/2024
– McConnell reiterates that presidents should not have absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, CNN, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 02:26:00 GMT
– Mitch McConnell Says He Doesn’t Think Presidents Should Be Immune From Prosecution, HuffPost, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:34:00 GMT
– Mitch McConnell Breaks With Trump on Absolute Presidential Immunity, Yahoo Singapore News, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 02:42:00 GMT