William Consovoy, a lawyer for President Trump, claimed in federal appeals court that the president could shoot someone on New York City's 5th Avenue and not be prosecuted, Politico reports.
The big picture: Consovoy's comments were made on Wednesday during oral arguments over a subpoena for Trump's tax returns. Trump filed a lawsuit in New York last month to block the subpoena "on the grounds that as president, he has absolute immunity from criminal indictment or investigation," per Politico. A federal judge threw out Trump's suit to block the subpoena, and Trump filed an appeal.
What they're saying: Consovoy clarified he was not suggesting "permanent immunity," after Judge Denny Chin of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit asked, "Nothing could be done, that's your position?"
- But as long as Trump is a sitting president, the attorney argued Trump could get away with the crime.
Flashback: The judge's question echoed a 2016 Trump campaign rally assertion that he could "stand in the middle of 5th avenue and shoot somebody" without losing voters.
Go deeper: The fight for Trump's taxes
