Elizabeth Warren Wants Congress to Ensure Presidents Can Be Indicted

[DonViejo]

By Matt Stevens
May 31, 2019

For many Democrats, the aftermath of the Mueller report raised one central question: Would Robert S. Mueller III have charged President Trump with a crime if Justice Department policy had not prevented him from doing so? On Friday, Senator Elizabeth Warren said the answer was yes.

Ms. Warren, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, proposed legislation she said was aimed at ensuring that “no President is above the law.” She called on Congress to pass a law clarifying that the Justice Department can in fact indict the president of the United States, while also renewing her call to begin impeachment proceedings against Mr. Trump.

“Mueller’s statement made clear what those of us who have read his report already knew: He’s referring Donald Trump for impeachment, and it’s up to Congress to act,” she said in a post on Medium.

“But impeachment isn’t supposed to be the only way that a President can be held accountable for committing a crime,” she said. “Congress should make it clear that Presidents can be indicted for criminal activity, including obstruction of justice. And when I’m President, I’ll appoint Justice Department officials who will reverse flawed policies so no President is shielded from criminal accountability.”

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[blueinredohio]

1. Amen to that

[dalton99a]

2. Kick

[Chin music]

3. Loving her more every day.

Really love that her hair get's pretty blonde in the summer too. Good all around. Honestly makes me feel like somebody is watching out for me, and all of us.

[hedda_foil]

4. I love you, Liz, but if that passes, it will be used to indict innocent Democratic presidents.

If the Rs weren't so corrupt it might be a good idea.

[IADEMO2004]

5. Thank You!! Bad Idea

[mitch96]

6. So if we had a dem prez, senate and house can it be passed?

Worse case scenario in the future is a repub house and senate with bullshit charges remove the dem pres. yes?
m

[Hortensis]

7. Love Warren, but every liberal politician wants this.

I'd say every Democrat in congress, but not sure about every blue dog conservative.

[MineralMan]

8. Well, whoever gets elected President can push such a law.

And, if there's a majority of Democrats in both houses of Congress, it might become law.

Until then, it's not possible, unfortunately.

As Democratic voters, we can help make that possible. We can, but will we?

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Presidents are not indicted for good reason...

For one thing, it would take something extraordinary to get Justice to issue an indictment when it's run by a presidential appointee.

For another, a criminal trial has much tougher rules of evidence than an impeachment, so he has a better chance of getting off. (Even though we have never successfully impeached and convicted a President) Besides, indictments tend to anticipate a plea deal-- how would that work?

An indictment would throw the trial into the courts, where the public interest would be largely irrelevant, and the trial could even be secret. And how do you pick a jury?

An impeachment has 535 congrescritters fighting it out in public, and listening to their voters, who are listening to who knows what.

An indictment and trial wouldn't necessarily get rid of the President, just leave him in office even more pissed off. If he gets a prison sentence, could he work from the slam?

I assume we're talking only about Federal crimes here. And only felonies. Could you imagine the fun we could have charging a president for "allowing" someone to smoke a joint in the Rose Garden?

And the Feds still have a death penalty (which some would no doubt find agreeable)