We'd Arrest Trump For Fifth Avenue Shooting, NYC Mayor Says

NEW YORK — He might give up his freedom even if he didn't lose any voters. NYPD cops would put President Donald Trump in handcuffs if he tested his lawyer's theory that he could freely shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, city officials said Thursday.

"I don't care if it's the president of the United States or anybody else — you shoot someone, you get arrested," Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said at an unrelated news conference. "We would arrest him."

One of the NYPD's highest-ranking officials concurred. "We would," First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker said.

The officials were responding to Trump lawyer William S. Consovoy's claim that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted or even investigated for a criminal act while in office — even one as bold as opening fire on Fifth Avenue.

Consovoy made the argument during a Wednesday federal court hearing as he sought to block Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.'s office from obtaining Trump's tax returns through a subpoena.

The Republican president famously said on the campaign trail in 2016 that he "wouldn't lose any voters" if he shot someone in the middle of the Manhattan thoroughfare. U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin asked Consovoy if his theory of presidential immunity extended to that hypothetical example.

"Local authorities couldn't investigate?" Chin asked, according to a recording published by The Washington Post. "Nothing could be done? That's your position?"

"That's correct," Consovoy replied.

The argument didn't hold water with de Blasio, who suggested Trump would face the same criminal consequences as anyone else who shot someone. The NYPD had recorded 761 shootings in the city this year as of Sunday, up from 744 at the same point last year.

The mayor — who ended his quixotic presidential run last month — also questioned Consovoy's legal capabilities.

"Anyone who calls themselves a lawyer who can say that should not be a lawyer. Let's start with that," said de Blasio, who frequently points out that he is not a lawyer.

"But if you shoot someone that's a crime and no one is above the law," the mayor added. "He would be arrested, period."

Consovoy did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.