Could the president go to jail if he/she breaks the law?

Freedom

I can't see that happening. For instance, the truth about the Clintons is that they stole about two hundred thousand dollars worth of furniture, paintings and the like from the White House. You and I paid for it. They were not questioned. Try that at your job and see what happens!

T. M

You don't see Bush in jail do you? Hes a master criminal ! No convicted felon has any rights. Impeach the vietnam dodging coward

jes g

They wont..they will just get a slap on the hand and get impeached..Example..Watergate scandal

The Answerer

The president cannot be prosecuted or go to jail while he remains in office. The House of Representatives must first vote to petition the senate to impeach the president. The Senate will hold a trial and determine if the President is guilty. If the Senate finds the president guilty, the president is removed from office, and criminal charges can then be filed in the federal court against the ex-president.

As soon as the president is removed, the vice-president becomes the new president. And usually, the new president will grant an official Pardon to the deposed president clearing him of any criminal charges or convictions.

This is what happened to Nixon in the Watergate affair. Look up on it.

Agabo#11

I am pretty sure that they can go to jail!

Logic316

According to Article 2, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, a president is specifically forbidden from issuing pardons in cases of impeachment. Of course, a silly little detail like that didn't stop Ford from pardoning Nixon.

Iskandar

Well if a president commits a crime that is punishable by jail, then he should have to go to jail just like anyone else.

billc4u

yes they can and the first step to that is impeachment

rmohan80

The president pretty much has to go to jail after his / her term for screwing up the country :)

child4jc74

well lets see um WATERGATE, I dont remember nixon doin any time! i feel these gas prices are a crime and its all because he only has 1 year left and he owns oil wells in texas so hes making as much as he can while hes in there , and the lovely usa gets to pay him all that "make me richer" money but of course noone cares- understand what im drivin' at?

Sako Tiberious Grimes

No matter what any president does, he will always have enough money and powerful friends to keep out of jail.

chilly silver girl

yes. the law can force them out of presidency and then they can get sentenced to jail.
that never happens though.

Harlem's mvp

Yes the President can go to jail if he/she breaks the law because the President is considered a civilian. If the president commits treason then that offense is punishable by death. Proving that the President has commited a crime is hard so you will probably not hear that a President has been arrested.

airlines charge for the seat.

You bet a President can go to jail if he/she breaks the law.
But you can be sure a they will be pardon before they even see the outside of jail.

gillianinchains

If it were so, our Current Joke would be in jail already.

turnert94

yes noone is exempt from the law though they probably wont get much or any jail time

Laid back

You need to read up on the executive branch rights. If the Legislative or Justice branch brings the charges and they are upheld even the President can be incarcerated.

sawyer

100%

debbie f

First they would be impeached and then the would get arrested.

Gershon ben David

In some democratic countries like the USA it is possible. In dark dictatorships he / she would send the opponents to jail. This is the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship.

dula_14stars

After they retire they can go to jail.

Autumn Moon

The chances of that happening would be rather small in the USA. Even Nixon got pardoned, and Bush doesn't even get mentioned for being involved ratting out an undercover agent anymore. The crime would have to be earthshaking and very very public, probably have to catch him/her in front of multitudes of people and on film. He/she would also need to be impeached first or else simply out of office.

Bdnkadnk

You have NO idea how much power the Shriners have do you? The good ol boys take care of their own!

Mike

It depends where he or she come from

John

It might be possible that they could go to jail, but it would be extremely unlikely. Look at the last 30-40 years!

Rose

Why not? No one should be above the law.

This maxim,however,does not apply to corrupt regemes, where greed or power have precedence over justice.

TSW

If that's true then he should be in jail already.

Crystal

Yea, they certainly can get themselves out.
They are reach and can buy any best defense (that is if matter went as far as court).
But I think that if they do commit crime - they should be on the same plate with others and pay for the crime as others do.
But again if a President is chosen - there is a great deal of responsibility he/she will have and if there was no corruption in elections - President will naturally not commit any crime.
Hey, that would be nice. But we all know that things happen.

farmboy702003

In theory, yes they could go to jail. But it will never happen. It has always been a custom for the new president to give pardons .

LonelyHarts

ya.
everyone is equal when it comes to the court.

Must Be The Clouds In My Eyes

sadly yes , but it depends on the crime

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