Legal question, can trump and Barr face civil lawsuits, and be criminally charged

[duforsure]

For violently attacking peaceful protesters when they are ousted from office? Could they face time in jail for violation of Constitutional given rights?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. A president is absolutely immune from civil damages

for acts committed while in office (Nixon v. Fitzgerald) but not for acts committed before taking office (Clinton v. Jones). Nobody else has either absolute civil or criminal immunity (see., e.g., Spiro Agnew and John Mitchell).

Civil lawsuits would technically be against the government although officials can be the named defendants. I would expect lawsuits against cities and police departments based on civil rights violations arising from the demonstrations to start appearing any time now. Whether Barr could be successfully sued depends on whether any of the usual defenses apply, e.g., immunity for discretionary acts (which ordering the attacks by the police arguably would be).

[Coleman]

2. Unless there is a law, there is no crime in unconstitutional behavior

Liability for damages, sure. Jail time, no.