Trump posts all-caps 2 AM rant calling for 'total immunity' even if acts 'cross the line'
In a late-night screed posted to his Truth Social account, former President Donald Trump reiterated his call for "complete and total presidential immunity" as the nation's second-highest court is set to issue a decision on the question any day now.
"A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MUST HAVE FULL IMMUNITY, WITHOUT WHICH IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM/HER TO PROPERLY FUNCTION. ANY MISTAKE, EVEN IF WELL INTENDED, WOULD BE MET WITH ALMOST CERTAIN INDICTMENT BY THE OPPOSING PARTY AT TERM END," Trump wrote at 1:59 AM early Thursday morning. "EVEN EVENTS THAT 'CROSS THE LINE' MUST FALL UNDER TOTAL IMMUNITY, OR IT WILL BE YEARS OF TRAUMA TRYING TO DETERMINE GOOD FROM BAD."
"ALL PRESIDENTS MUST HAVE COMPLETE & TOTAL PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY, OR THE AUTHORITY & DECISIVENESS OF A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WILL BE STRIPPED & GONE FOREVER," he added. "HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE AN EASY DECISION. GOD BLESS THE SUPREME COURT!"
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Earlier this month, Trump's lawyers argued to a DC Circuit Court of Appeals panel that as president, their client should be free to act with impunity. Observers noted that Judges Michelle Childs, Karen Henderson and Florence Y. Pan appeared skeptical of the argument and all of its implications.
In audio of the proceedings, one of the judges can be heard asking Trump lawyer John Sauer if immunity was guaranteed even in the event a president ordered the assassination of a political opponent. He answered that yes, it would, provided that president isn't impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted in a US Senate trial.
Should the panel reject Trump's immunity argument, he can still appeal that decision to the full DC Circuit in an en banc motion, though the Circuit could refuse to hear it, meaning the panel's ruling would stand. The panel also has the ability to severely shorten the window for Trump to appeal its decision to as little as five days, according to former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump's DC election interference trial, has temporarily paused proceedings while the DC Circuit — and potentially the Supreme Court — considers the question of absolute presidential immunity. That trial is still scheduled to move forward on the originally set date of March 4, just one day before roughly a dozen states and territories have their presidential nominating contests (also known as "super Tuesday").
READ MORE: Ex-federal prosecutor: DC Circuit could shave months off Trump delays with procedural move
