Sen. McConnell: President Is Not Immune to Criminal Prosecution

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has voiced his opposition to presidential immunity, particularly for former President Donald Trump, when it comes to criminal prosecution.

In a NBC News’ “Meet the Press” interview with Kristen Welker, McConnell stated, “Obviously, I don’t think that, but it’s not up to me to make that decision.” He emphasized that the Supreme Court has the authority to decide on the need for any kind of immunity to prevent constant legal challenges for the president.

“So we’ll just see how the Supreme Court deals with it,” McConnell remarked.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether Trump can be criminally prosecuted for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election defeat while in office.

Trump argues that he should have “absolute” immunity for what he considers official actions, despite his claim of innocence. The court seemed divided on the issue, with the conservative-leaning majority showing different levels of openness to such protection while also setting limits to exclude a president’s private conduct, as reported by ABC News.

Welker pressed McConnell about his previous statements and his 2021 vote to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial. McConnell reiterated his stance, noting that Trump is responsible for his actions during his presidency. However, he stressed the importance of the Supreme Court’s impending decision in defining the extent of presidential immunity.

“We’re gonna find out, aren’t we? I mean, the Supreme Court is going to deal with that direct issue that I was referring to on Feb. 13, 2021. And I think we’ll find out sometime soon,” McConnell remarked.

This landmark case’s outcome has significant implications, potentially leading to new legal disputes and potentially prolonging Trump’s ongoing legal battles.

A ruling from the high court will determine whether Trump could face trial before the November election on four charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

The ruling is expected by the end of June.