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Can't the Idiot in Chief be forced to testify (i.e. subpoenaed by Grand Jury)? (Original Post) MoonRiver Jan 2018 OP
Yes, but even the President has a 5th amendment right against self-incrimination. n/t PoliticAverse Jan 2018 #1
He can't be forced to testify but he can be forced to appear. DemocratSinceBirth Jan 2018 #4
Yes DetroitLegalBeagle Jan 2018 #2
If he refuses a grand jury subpoena, it's a constitutional crisis. marylandblue Jan 2018 #3
I think the scum will produce a constitutional crisis. MoonRiver Jan 2018 #6
Yep DetroitLegalBeagle Jan 2018 #8
Pence would pardon him for federal crimes, but can't protect him from state crimes. MoonRiver Jan 2018 #10
If we go down that road, he may find he has few friends, or many lackeys marylandblue Jan 2018 #11
Old Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times! MoonRiver Jan 2018 #12
All this will do is force Trump to take the Fifth Gothmog Jan 2018 #5
Good. That will reveal how guilty the POS is. MoonRiver Jan 2018 #7
Exactly. Let him take the fifth. AJT Jan 2018 #9
Can he take the fifth Orange Free State Jan 2018 #13
LOL MoonRiver Jan 2018 #14
+1 uponit7771 Jan 2018 #16
Expect a constitutional crisis. Nothing that has happened thusfar suggests anything otherwise. Mr. Ected Jan 2018 #15
It did not happen with Bill Clinton. former9thward Jan 2018 #17

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
3. If he refuses a grand jury subpoena, it's a constitutional crisis.
Wed Jan 10, 2018, 06:44 PM
Jan 2018

A judge can compel anyone to appear, but how does he enforce against the POTUS? Order the Secret Service to bring him?

MoonRiver

(36,926 posts)
6. I think the scum will produce a constitutional crisis.
Wed Jan 10, 2018, 06:50 PM
Jan 2018

He knows there is NO way he can survive a deposition with Mueller.

DetroitLegalBeagle

(1,904 posts)
8. Yep
Wed Jan 10, 2018, 06:55 PM
Jan 2018

Exactly why I said a President cannot be compelled to comply or testify. Our checks and balances system leaves enforcement of law to the Executive Branch. The Judicial branch can rule however they choose, but have no power to physically enforce any of their rulings. Nor can the Legislative branch. Now, there are obvious arguments about this very subject, but the least messy solution, if it were to come to this, is impeachment. Remove him from office, then charge him. This avoids a potentially dangerous ruling that could grant a bit too much power to the Executive branch.

MoonRiver

(36,926 posts)
10. Pence would pardon him for federal crimes, but can't protect him from state crimes.
Wed Jan 10, 2018, 07:01 PM
Jan 2018

I'm sure New York would love to put his fat arse in prison.

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
11. If we go down that road, he may find he has few friends, or many lackeys
Wed Jan 10, 2018, 07:02 PM
Jan 2018

People under him will have to decide if their loyalty is to him or the constitution. They may convince him to appear, or threaten him. Or not.

Once this would have been a no brainer. Now we just don't know.

Mr. Ected

(9,670 posts)
15. Expect a constitutional crisis. Nothing that has happened thusfar suggests anything otherwise.
Wed Jan 10, 2018, 07:30 PM
Jan 2018

If compelled to testify, he will refuse. He will tweet again and again that there was collusion, that he is not under investigation, that Hillary was the criminal, that Mueller is a partisan hack, you name it.

He won't testify.

Congress will do nothing.

We keep asserting that, if Trump fires Mueller or undermines the investigation, his approval ratings will plummet and Republicans will do whatever they need to avoid going down with the ship.

I cry bullshit.

They have no conscience. They are co-conspirators. The RNC, the House, the Senate, all of them. GOP co-conspirators. Impeachment will never be on the table, unless January 2019 rolls around and we take the House. Even then, it'll drag on and on and on. And meanwhile, our democracy will be rendered a laughingstock.

He won't testify.

Congress will do nothing.

former9thward

(31,798 posts)
17. It did not happen with Bill Clinton.
Thu Jan 11, 2018, 12:53 AM
Jan 2018

He was not forced to do anything. He was asked to give testimony via a video set up which was seen by the grand jury.

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