This would seem to bear on the question of whether a sitting President can be indicted. The Clinton precedent suggests to me that they can be, but I suppose it would depend on the particulars.[/QUOTE]
Don't do too much of a mix and match between criminal and civil cases in regard to the whether a president can be subject to legal action.
You can make a case that in a civil action seeking monetary damages that a president can pay out and still go to his job the next day. In criminal matters that could involve prison time, it is a whole nuther matter. The Framer's recognized that no man is above the law, on the other hand they recognized that a duly elected president should not be brought down or harassed on a daily basis by dipshit charges. Somewhere between the two is the answer.
Of note, Bubba was also a sitting president when he entered a guilty plea in a criminal case- ie. perjury. It gets complicated. He might have a constitutional argument against being prosecuted while president but he probably also has the right to waive that and enter into plea negotiations if he wishes.
Don't do too much of a mix and match between criminal and civil cases in regard to the whether a president can be subject to legal action.
You can make a case that in a civil action seeking monetary damages that a president can pay out and still go to his job the next day. In criminal matters that could involve prison time, it is a whole nuther matter. The Framer's recognized that no man is above the law, on the other hand they recognized that a duly elected president should not be brought down or harassed on a daily basis by dipshit charges. Somewhere between the two is the answer.
Of note, Bubba was also a sitting president when he entered a guilty plea in a criminal case- ie. perjury. It gets complicated. He might have a constitutional argument against being prosecuted while president but he probably also has the right to waive that and enter into plea negotiations if he wishes.