Former President Donald Trump’s recent declaration on Truth Social, demanding “total immunity” from criminal prosecution, has ignited controversy and faced sharp criticism from legal experts.
Responding to this unusual claim, former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal appeared on “The Last Word” with Ali Velshi, expressing strong opposition to Trump’s argument, as reported by Raw Story on Friday, January 19, 2024.
In the early hours of Thursday, Trump took to Truth Social to assert his belief that a sitting president should enjoy complete immunity, even if they “crossed the line” and committed crimes.
The all-caps declaration emphasized the necessity of this immunity for a president to function properly, stating, “A president of the United States must have full immunity, without which it would be impossible for him/her to properly function.”
“Any mistake, even if well-intended, would be met with almost certain indictment by the opposing party at term end. Even events that ‘cross the line’ must fall under total immunity, or it will be years of trauma trying to determine good from bad. There must be certainty.”
Neal Katyal, known for his expertise in constitutional law, immediately criticized Trump’s assertion, calling it “constitutionally absurd and totally ahistorical.”
Katyal emphasized that the idea of absolute immunity for the president goes against the fundamental principles embedded in the Constitution and the nation’s history.
“The argument is not just weird; it’s constitutionally absurd and totally ahistorical,” he said. “One of the great traditions that America has had, and what we fought the Revolution about, is the idea that the king can do wrong, that he doesn’t have immunity, that you can go after the highest leaders of our government. Our entire Constitution is structured around that principle.”
Katyal went further, characterizing Trump’s claim as disrespectful to the Constitution, stating, “He is spitting on our Constitution. He is spitting on our rule of law. And I cannot think of a more disqualifying statement from a candidate for the high office.”
The legal expert emphasized the unprecedented nature of Trump’s demand, highlighting that in the history of the United States, no president has ever asserted absolute immunity from criminal law.
“We have had 46 presidents; no one has claimed absolute immunity from the criminal law,” Katyal said. “And now Donald Trump comes along and does so.”
Trump’s Shocking ‘Total Immunity’ Gambit – A Dire Threat to Our Democracy Revealed!”
