The question of whether a president could be subject to criminal prosecution for certain official acts while in office but not impeached has been debated in the D.C. Circuit court. The case involved Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, with his lawyers arguing that he cannot be prosecuted for official acts without first being impeached and convicted by the Senate.
The judges on the panel seemed skeptical of Trump’s immunity argument, particularly since this would mean that a president could potentially avoid both political accountability through impeachment and criminal liability through prosecution if his crimes were timed strategically. Trump’s lawyers maintained that the courts should not be able to examine the president’s official acts, and that prosecution can only occur after impeachment and removal from office.
The case raised concerns about the potential for politically motivated prosecutions of former presidents. Trump’s lawyer argued that allowing prosecution of former presidents could lead to cycles of recrimination that would shake the republic. The government’s lawyer disagreed, stating that the threat of criminal prosecution would not paralyze the presidency and that there should be a mechanism to address alleged criminal conduct by a former president.
The judges also discussed the precedent set by the pardon of Richard Nixon by Gerald Ford and the nature of the charges against Nixon, which involved official acts. Trump’s lawyers argued that his efforts to challenge the election results were within the bounds of his official responsibilities and should be protected from prosecution.
In summary, the case highlights the debate over whether a former president can be prosecuted for official acts without first being impeached, potentially setting a new precedent for the post-presidency accountability of former presidents.