Presidential Obstruction of Justice Impeding investigations Next: Presidential Indictability

The Context

Before becoming attorney general, William P. Barr took the position that obstruction of justice laws should not be interpreted as applying to a president who abuses his official powers to impede an investigation for corrupt reasons — and that, as a constitutional matter, Congress could not criminalize abuse of official power even if lawmakers explicitly intended to do so.

The Question

As a constitutional matter, does Congress have the authority to criminalize a president’s abuse of Article II powers for corrupt purposes? As a statutory matter, do current obstruction-of-justice laws apply to a president’s abuse of his official powers?