Rudy Giuliani reassuringly explains that Trump won't actually shoot somebody

Rudy Giuliani.
(Image credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's attorney, is so confident in his legal strategy that he's willing to apply it to one of Trump's wildest claims.

Giuliani told TMZ that there's no way Trump will be indicted while in office — even if he shoots somebody. The bizarre assertion came up after TMZ asked Giuliani about Trump's 2016 claim that he could "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" and not face any consequences. But not to worry, Giuliani said: Trump was just using a rhetorical device, not threatening murder.

"He's not going to do that, that's obviously just a metaphor," Giuliani said.

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Giuliani further explained that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team of investigators can't indict a sitting president, because in order for a commander in chief to be indicted he must first be impeached. "All they get to do is write a report," Giuliani told CNN.

Giuliani said that Mueller, who is leading the investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian meddling in the 2016 election, told Trump's legal team that he would not try and indict Trump if his team found any wrongdoing. There is some disagreement among lawmakers whether the Constitution bars sitting presidents from being indicted, but Giuliani certainly seems unconcerned with the debate. Watch his full comments at TMZ.

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Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.