General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRosenstein just implied Trump could be indicted.
At his Newseum interview, he said the crap Republicans are pulling with trying to impeach him is ridiculous, and the DoJ won't be extorted by them.
He also said the DoJ has in the past "opined" that a sitting President can't be indicted, but that one should not make any determination of the current situation based on that.
Doesn't mean Mueller will indict him, but it does seem like Rosenstein is leaving the door open for that possibility.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)sets the President up as king, immune from accountability to the law. It's not like we don't have a good, solid, long line of succession set up in the case something happens to the top dog -- or top criminal, as the case may be.
FirstLight
(13,364 posts)...and the long line of succession will also no doubt be indicted as well. I wonder when the SHTF how many dominoes will actually fall, either by indictment or resignation in disgrace?
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)ollie10
(2,091 posts)But there are two little factoids that should be noted: 1) Trump is a danger to the world and our constitution, 2) as bad as Pence would be, he is not Donald Trump and we could rebuild any damage he does afterwards. Trump could be the literal end of the world, at least as we know it.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)MY concern is that there's been not enough indication that Mueller is going after Pence. And he must. Pence is every bit as dirty, at least during the transition and after, as Trump.
ollie10
(2,091 posts)pnwmom
(108,994 posts)He never hynotized Indiana and he won't cast a spell over the U.S.
forgotmylogin
(7,530 posts)He will not whip up the frenzy Trump is able to with his racist reality show hucksterism.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)He's unlikable, and there's a lot of suspicion about him being involved in this mess. It may not be true, but the suspicion is still there.
bluestarone
(17,030 posts)Congress REPUBS need to be indicted also!ONCE AND FOR ALL, CLEAN OUT THE SWAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)Lots. Like most of the ones with R after their names.
BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)I was trying to remember how many, who and when the people connected to Nixon and Watergate arrested. I think I heard 42 but I don't know their roles or if they were jailed before or after Nixon resigned.
Eyeball_Kid
(7,434 posts)There is plenty of evidence in the public domain that shows Pence to have given away state secrets to an unregistered foreign agent and then lied about it. If I know that, and a lot of everyday mopes know about it, then surely Mueller got the information, did his due diligence, and wrote up an indictment to be issued on a rainy day. He reportedly has dozens of indictments that will be unsealed at the right time. Recent implications of Mueller's investigations involve obstruction and conspiracy. But those are the loose ends that are being tied up. Remember that this investigation has been going on since August or September of 2016, beginning with Comey. That's a long time for fact-finding. And indeed, a lot of facts have been found.
RandomAccess
(5,210 posts)lindysalsagal
(20,730 posts)the job.
Well, since 45 impedes his own ability, and kicks up all the storms, anyway, that effing ship has sailed, like, to Bora Bora.
NewJeffCT
(56,829 posts)but, we've also never had a treasonous and overwhelmingly corrupt mob boss occupying the oval office before, either.
triron
(22,020 posts)duforsure
(11,885 posts)Then he is above the law, and everything in the oath he swore to uphold before entering office is a joke, and our justice system is a joke, where one man can do anything and not be held accountable. SO , I agree with Rosenstein no one is above the law , and everyone can be indicted, especially a sitting President , or you'll breed never ending corruption, and constant turmoil where the lucky few do as they please. Like in Russia now under putin.
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)no one wants the president prosecuted for frivolous, constant accusations, but there has to be accountability. Couldn't a judge rule on whether a charge merits proceeding?
unblock
(52,318 posts)the suggestion is that there's something substantively different about what's going on now that would make the old opinion not apply.
my guess is that the difference is in the present situation, there are also ongoing crimes, i.e., this is a criminal enterprise, not just a situations where crimes have occurred in the past.
if there are ongoing crimes, the argument for not waiting to indict is much more compelling.
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)That could explain a lot. Was the old opinion by the AG, which is a political position? That could also make a difference, meaning it is conflicted. We need to know more about the context.
triron
(22,020 posts)Take note.
paleotn
(17,960 posts)Nixon v. Fitzgerald states such. In short, a President is not immune from criminal prosecution from official and unofficial acts in office.
OliverQ
(3,363 posts)only legal method to deal with a criminal president.
paleotn
(17,960 posts)From what I've read, it simply states a sitting President is not above the law, which in my mind opens up the possibility of criminal indictment regardless of what a feckless Congress does.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,121 posts)underthematrix
(5,811 posts)said you cannot extrapolate from this situation previous opinions about whether a sitting president can be indicted.
Here's erromneous assumption most people are starting with that Donald Trump is a sitting president.
That is not true. He's a Russian agent or asset OCCUPYING the Office of the US Presidency through a conspiracy to defraud the United States of a free and fair election.
If the FISA court finds Trump's statements and actions fall within the scope of the Espionage Act as an agent of a foreign government (Russia) and that he participated in a massive attack against the US then yes Trump will be indicted.
triron
(22,020 posts)HenryWallace
(332 posts).... is a President Pence!
But sure, distract people from the implosion that is Republican governance; it will make you feel better.