Overview

• Trump's lawyers argue that a president cannot face a criminal trial unless impeached by Congress, sparking debate over the scope of presidential immunity.
• The argument implies a president could prevent impeachment by detaining members of Congress who might vote for it, drawing comparisons to historical power grabs.
• The claim of immunity extends to potential crimes committed during a president's tenure, including ordering the assassination of a political opponent.
• Trump's lawyers' argument has been met with skepticism from judges and criticism from lawmakers, with some warning against complacency in protecting democratic norms.
• Trump himself has not rejected the idea of a president's power to order an assassination of a political rival, insisting that any president 'has to have immunity' or else they will be 'totally ineffective.'