By Brady Knox, Breaking News Reporter. Media: Washington Examiner.
Former President Donald Trump committed a “technical violation of the Constitution” but not a crime, his attorney argued.
Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, John Lauro made the argument when host Chuck Todd pressed him on whether his client had only engaged in a disagreement with Vice President Mike Pence and if the latter could take actions that may lead to the 2020 election being overturned. Lauro began by arguing that Pence never said Trump violated any law.
“Vice President Pence is an attorney,” he said. “If he had, at any point, said or thought that Mr. Trump, President Trump, was acting unlawfully or contrary to criminal law, he would have said that. No one ever suggested that.”
Todd interjected by saying Pence had said that Trump was asking him to violate the Constitution, to which Lauro disagreed.
“No, that’s wrong. That’s wrong,” Lauro responded. “A technical violation of the Constitution is not a violation of criminal law. That’s just plain wrong. And to say that is contrary to decades of legal statute.”
He argued the case would be the “most important civil rights constitutional case in decades.”
“Everything that President Trump did was while he was in office as a president. He is now immune from prosecution for acts that he takes in connection with those policies,” Lauro added.
Todd noted that the argument was an “interesting legal place you’re gonna go.”
Trump was indicted on Thursday on four federal crimes, including conspiracy to defraud and obstruction and conspiracy of rights. Trump has since pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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