Donald Trump's lawyer John Sauer stuns judge by championing presidential immunity for political rival assassinations

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump's lawyer John Sauer's staggering claim left Justice Sonia Sotomayor utterly stunned.

Sauer defended his client when he and Sotomayor were involved in an exchange over whether presidential immunity covers the assassination of political rivals during Thursday’s Supreme Court hearing, on April 25. 

The 49-year-old previously argued that under certain circumstances a president could order Seal Team Six to assassinate a political rival and not face prosecution, at an appeal hearing on former President Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity.

The topic came up again during the Supreme Court Hearing

During the court hearing, the associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States asked Sauer, "Now I think. What? And then your, answer, below, I’m going to give you a chance to say if you stay by it, if the president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military or orders someone to assassinate him, is that within his official acts that for which he can get immunity?"

Sauer replied, "It would depend on the hypothetical. What we can see that could well be an official act," as per Mediaite.

Sotomayor then asked in turn, "He could. And why? Because he’s doing it for personal reasons. He’s not doing it. Like President Obama is alleged to have done it to protect the country from a terrorist. He’s doing it for personal gain. And isn’t that the nature of the allegations here, that he’s not doing them, doing these acts in furtherance of an official responsibility? He’s doing it for personal gain."

"I agree with that characterization of the indictment. And that confirms immunity, because the characterization is that there’s a series of official acts that were done for an honorable," Sauer firmly replied.

The exchange continued and turned to a discussion over the distinction between absolute and qualified immunity as it applies to the Executive Branch, or in particular, the President of the United States. Trump has argued for absolute immunity as a defense against the several criminal indictments he is currently facing.

Internet reacts after Sauer's shocking claims 

Netizens were also left stunned after Trump's lawyer made the shocking claims. "Hmmm….Is that so? Does that mean we could rid ourselves of Maga republicans 'officially,'" asked one and another opined, "I see a certain lawyer not being able to find a job anywhere in the US soon. That's all I see here." 

"Trump’s heinous arguments make it all the more clear that his legal position is without merit. Trump's immunity is illegal," one user echoed. Another tweeted, "That's why the impeachment process was drafted, Congress rules on matters concerning the president."

"This is how Trump becomes a dictator of the US without losing the election. When the laws of the land are bent to prepare the way for him to do so. When he has been granted the freedom to act as a dictator before he takes the position," tweeted one user. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.