‘You Have Lost These Judges’: CNN Legal Analyst Eviscerates Trump Lawyer’s ‘Ludicrous’ Immunity Argument
CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Elliot Williams ridiculed arguments made by Donald Trump’s attorney, who claimed the former president is immune from criminal prosecution unless he is impeached and convicted by Congress.
In a wild scene on Tuesday, Trump attorney John Sauer argued before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that Trump should be immune from prosecution in the election-related case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Trump is under federal indictment in Washington, D.C. over his attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
One of the judges asked Sauer, “Could a president who ordered Seal Team Six to assassinate a political rival, who was not impeached – would he be subject to criminal prosecution?”
“If he were impeached and convicted [by Congress] first,” he replied.
“So your answer is ‘no,'” the judge replied.
“My answer is qualified,” he responded.
Appearing on Tuesday’s edition of The Lead, Williams was asked to weigh in.
“Does this make any sense to you from a legal perspective?” asked guest host Pamela Brown.
“Oh, not at all,” Williams answered. “I’ve been a lawyer for a while, lost a lot of appeals and that was the moment when you watch and say, ‘Wow, you have lost these judges.’ And I don’t think Trump’s team is getting them back.”
Williams then noted Gerald Ford’s pardoning of Richard Nixon after the latter resigned over his actions covering up the Watergate scandal. He said implicit in the act was an understanding that former presidents do not have immunity from criminal prosecution related to acts they committed as president.
“This whole idea that there is the sphere of conduct, that somehow presidents are immune from, is just ludicrous,” he continued.
Watch above via CNN.
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