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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Mon Dec 4, 2017, 05:22 PM Dec 2017

Sessions argued in Clinton impeachment that presidents can obstruct justice

Trump’s personal lawyer argued Monday that the ‘president cannot obstruct justice because he is the chief law enforcement officer … and has every right to express his view of any case.’

By KYLE CHENEY 12/04/2017 03:43 PM EST

President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer argued Monday that, as the nominal head of federal law enforcement, the president is legally unable to obstruct justice. But the exact opposite view was once argued by another senior Trump lawyer: Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

In 1999, Sessions – then an Alabama senator – laid out an impassioned case for President Bill Clinton to be removed from office based on the argument that Clinton obstructed justice amid the investigation into his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

“The facts are disturbing and compelling on the President's intent to obstruct justice,” he said, according to remarks in the congressional record.

Sessions isn’t alone. More than 40 current GOP members of Congress voted for the impeachment or removal of Clinton from office for obstruction of justice. They include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell – who mounted his own passionate appeal to remove Clinton from office for obstruction of justice – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, who was a House member at the time.

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https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/04/jeff-sessions-president-obstruct-justice-bill-clinton-278517

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Sessions argued in Clinton impeachment that presidents can obstruct justice (Original Post) DonViejo Dec 2017 OP
They are the party of hypocricy. BigmanPigman Dec 2017 #1
A key distinction is that impeachment is not a criminal case. bench scientist Dec 2017 #2
The stench of corruption is as thick as Delhi air. ffr Dec 2017 #3

bench scientist

(1,107 posts)
2. A key distinction is that impeachment is not a criminal case.
Mon Dec 4, 2017, 05:51 PM
Dec 2017

No sitting a President has ever been charged in a criminal case. No precedent case law exists but argument can be made for and against.
Mueller knows this. Obstruction of justice will not be the only charge filed. Moreover , I bet Trump will be charged with state offenses as well.

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