Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stated in an interview Thursday with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he does not suppose presidents will have to be immune from legal prosecution for movements taken whilst in administrative center, because the Supreme Court heard arguments at the factor.
The Kentucky Republican additionally advised “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker that he stands through his acquittal vote and feedback he made in 2021, when he voted towards convicting former President Donald Trump in a Senate trial after he was once impeached through the House on fees associated with the Jan. 6 assault at the Capitol.
“President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office. … He didn’t get away with anything, yet,” McConnell said in 2021, adding, “we have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation. And former presidents are not immune from being [held] accountable by either one.”
“That’s [still] my view,” McConnell stated Thursday, because the Supreme Court heard arguments from Trump’s legal professionals and federal prosecutors about whether or not the previous president can face fees for acts he dedicated whilst in administrative center.
“But my view is only my view. I mean, the court is going to decide,” McConnell added.
Thursday’s Supreme Court arguments stem from federal fees that Trump unlawfully interfered within the certification of the 2020 presidential election effects. Trump has argued he has absolute immunity from prosecution for what he did whilst president, and the court docket is ready to make a decision the scope of presidential immunity.
“The president clearly needs some kind of immunity, or he’d be in court all the time,” McConnell famous. But he stated he did not suppose it will have to be absolute, as Trump has argued.
“I’m not on the Supreme Court. I don’t get to make the final decision on that,” McConnell advised Welker.
The Senate Republican chief additionally spoke a couple of telephone name he had previous within the day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, simply days after each chambers of Congress authorized over $60 billion in help for Ukraine in its battle towards Russia.
McConnell advised Welker that Zelenskyy “was grateful, because he knew that the big challenge was in my party. And I think he — it was nice of him to mention that we had a bigger vote than we did a couple months ago,” when the Senate voted on a separate measure that incorporated Ukraine help. That measure later died within the House.
