Prosecuting Trump will open 'Pandora's box' from which the U.S. will never recover: lawyer

Prosecuting Donald Trump is going to open a “Pandora’s box” of pain on the country, his lawyer told appeals court judges Tuesday.

"To authorize the prosecution of a president for its official acts would open a Pandora's box from which this nation may never recover," D. John Sauer said at the start of the hearing in Washington, D.C., which is considering the former president’s claims that he should be immune for criminal charges.

Trump’s argument is that he was acting in his official capacity as president and, therefore, cannot be criminally charge in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of interference in the 2020 election.

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"Could George W. Bush be prosecuted for obstruction of an official proceeding for allegedly giving false information to Congress to induce the nation to go to war in Iraq under false pretenses?" Sauer asked. "Can President Obama be potentially charged with murder for allegedly authorizing drone strikes targeting U.S. citizens located abroad?"