Can the President be tried for crimes while in office?

The reasoning behind the assertion that a sitting president can be tried for crimes, with impeachment being a necessary process for removal, is rooted in the U.S. Constitution and legal precedents. While a president enjoys certain protections while in office, including the notion that they cannot be criminally prosecuted in federal court during their term, the impeachment process serves as a constitutional mechanism for holding them accountable for "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Impeachment is initiated by the House of Representatives, where a president can be formally accused of misconduct. If the House votes to impeach, the matter then moves to the Senate, which conducts a trial. A two-thirds vote in the Senate is required to convict and subsequently remove the president from office. If the president is removed through this process, they can then be subject to prosecution for crimes committed while in office.

This aligns with the idea that the political process of impeachment is a precondition that must be fulfilled before a sitting president faces criminal charges. Other options presented are misleading or incorrect regarding the legal standing of a president while in office and the implications of being charged with crimes.