Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb warned that people need to take former President Trump seriously as a threat to democracy.
CNN anchor Erin Burnett asked Cobb about an argument from Trump’s legal team Tuesday that suggested a president directing SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political opponent is covered by presidential immunity. She pointed out Trump’s past comments praising Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked Cobb whether people should take Trump literally.
“I think you have to take Trump seriously, because he poses the gravest threat to democracy that we’ve ever seen,” Cobb said on “Erin Burnett OutFront.”
Trump’s lawyers argued in front of a three-judge panel that former presidents can only face prosecution if they are first impeached and convicted by the Senate. His legal team is claiming Trump has presidential immunity from charges stemming from efforts to overturn the 2020 election — an argument the three judges appeared skeptical of Tuesday.
Trump, who was in the courtroom for the hearing, is facing four charges from special prosecutor Jack Smith related to efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. His legal team Tuesday answered hypothetical questions as to how far a former president could go and remain shielded from prosecution under their argument.
Trump attorney John Sauer answered with a “qualified yes” when asked if a former president would be barred from prosecution even if he ordered SEAL Team Six to take out a political rival.
“He would have to be impeached and convicted,” Sauer said.
Cobb pushed back on this argument, saying the legal team is just hoping to delay the case. Trump’s trial regarding 2020 election interference — the first of his four criminal cases — is currently scheduled for March 4.
“On the other hand, I think his legal arguments are interposed solely for delay,” Cobb said, suggesting that “it would be very scary if there’s no accountability” when someone attempts to stop the peaceful transfer of power.
“I think the, you know, lack of accountability that he desires — which Putin has, the ayatollah has, Xi has — as you as you alluded to, you know, I think that he may want an America that is like that,” Cobb said.
Cobb also noted that the founders of the U.S. wanted to ensure “this was not going to be a country where we had a king. This was going to be a country where we had an accountable executive.”