Judge rejects claim that presidents are exempt from criminal investigation

Courtesy of Creative Commons

By Lily Hartenstein

A federal judge ruled on Monday that sitting presidents are not immune from criminal investigation. The ruling allows Manhattan’s district attorney office to move forward with a subpoena seeking President Trump’s tax returns.

Judge Victor Marrero of Manhattan federal court rejected the claim from President Trump’s lawyers that a president and their businesses are immune from criminal investigation, calling the argument “repugnant to the nation’s government structure and constitutional values”. 

Although the ruling allows the investigation against President Trump to continue, that does not mean his tax returns will be turned over immediately. President Trump’s lawyers quickly appealed the decision, and the appeals court agreed to temporarily block the order. 

The Constitution does not state whether or not a president can be charged with a crime in office, and the Supreme Court has yet to set a precedent.