General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan't the Idiot in Chief be forced to testify (i.e. subpoenaed by Grand Jury)?
Been a long time, but it seems like this happened to Bill Clinton.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)DemocratSinceBirth
(99,704 posts)Then he could assert the 5th.
DetroitLegalBeagle
(1,904 posts)But there is no way to compel him to appear, let alone testify.
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)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)He knows there is NO way he can survive a deposition with Mueller.
DetroitLegalBeagle
(1,904 posts)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)I'm sure New York would love to put his fat arse in prison.
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)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.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Gothmog
(143,998 posts)MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)AJT
(5,240 posts)Orange Free State
(611 posts)If Bannon drank it already?
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)uponit7771
(90,225 posts)Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)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)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.