The founding era -- The Nixon era and the 1973 Office of Legal Counsel memorandum -- The Clinton era -- The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on presidential immunity -- The second opinion of the Office of Legal Counsel October 16, 2000 -- Donald J. Trump v. Cyrus R. Vance -- The separation of powers -- Impeachment : sequentiality -- Impeachment : criminality -- The rule of law.
Summary:
This book provides an in depth look at the constitutional, historical, and political arguments concerning presidential immunity from prosecution, as well as the opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel that provided the justification for the decision not to prosecute President Trump. Focusing on those opinions, the book examines the constitutional basis of presidential immunity, both textual and historical, as reflected in the deliberations of the 1787 Convention and the ratification debates. The opinions are viewed in the context of the criminal investigations of Presidents Nixon and Clinton that gave rise to those opinions, as well as the pronouncements of the Supreme Court concerning their claims, and those of President Trump to immunity from judicial inquiry. Lastly, the book analyses presidential immunity in light of the separation of powers, the availability of impeachment, and the discordance between presidential immunity and the rule of law.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.