Senator McConnell states that the President is not immune from criminal prosecution

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has voiced his opposition to presidential immunity, especially concerning former President Donald Trump, regarding potential criminal prosecution.

During an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” with Kristen Welker, McConnell stated, “Obviously, I don’t think that, but it’s not up to me to make that decision.” He emphasized the role of the Supreme Court in determining the necessity of some level of immunity for the president to avoid constant legal challenges.

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

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments on whether Trump can be prosecuted for alleged actions during his presidency to overturn the 2020 election results.

Trump argues for “absolute” immunity for what he deems as official actions despite maintaining his innocence. The court appeared split on the issue, with conservative justices showing varying degrees of support for such protection while setting limits to exclude a president’s private conduct, as reported by ABC News reported.

Welker pressed McConnell on his past statements and his decision to acquit Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial. McConnell stood by his previous position, emphasizing Trump’s accountability for his actions in office. He highlighted the importance of the Supreme Court’s impending ruling 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 stated.

The outcome of this high-profile case could have significant repercussions, potentially triggering new legal battles and prolonging Trump’s other ongoing legal challenges.

The high court’s forthcoming decision will determine whether Trump could face trial prior to the November election on multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

A ruling is expected by the end of June.