The UN, Bolton and Diplomatic Immunity

[passy]

If * appoints Bolton as temporary ambassador to the UN what kind of diplomatic immunity will he benefit from?
Could it stop any inquiry into his role in the Plame case?
Is that why he is being nominated in the first place?

[rolleitreks]

1. Zero, while in this country. American citizens have no diplomatic

immunity from their own government's jurisdiction. While abroad, he would have the usual full diplomatic immunity from the host countries.

[The Magistrate]

2. No, Sir

Diplomatic immunity applies to governments other than the one employing the diplomat: a government can prosecute its own fiplomats for whatever it damned well pleases....

[Walt Starr]

5. You know, that brings up another question about diplomatic immunity

Say John Bolton was the one who gave orders for torture. If he's now the U.N. ambassador, would he have diplomatic immunity during his tenure as ambassador for those crimes?

[The Magistrate]

7. No, Sir

Not from prosecution by the U.S. government, nor, if he were somehow shanghied before an international court, would he have it there. If he were to, say, venture onto into Spain to give a speech, and be arrested under Spanish law for a crime of any nature against a Spanish citizen, he would have no immunity, for he would not be accredited to the Spanish government, nor fulfilling any diplomatic function on Spanish soil.

[Walt Starr]

9. I understand not from prosecution by the U.S. government.

But the further information about a U.N. Ambassador is very informative.

[atreides1]

3. I Don't think so

Diplomatic immunity would only apply if Bolton committed a crime in another country, not the US.

Remember Jankow, the Republican congressman who ran down a motorcycle
rider, he didn't get diplomatic immunity.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. WHILE having that immunity

Getting a new title and post, and thereby getting diplomatic status does not protect one from past acts.

[Walt Starr]

4. He would have diplomatic immunity when he travels to other nations

but that's it.

No diplomatic immunity when in his own nation. He's still subject tot eh same laws as everybody else (or as every other Republ.ican as the case really is in the U.S.)

[joemurphy]

6. You have to be a diplomat to have immunity.

Bolton's no diplomat. He's an asshole.