[Cats Pajamas]

Saw this on twitter just now.

Did you know that when the US government is shut down it means government officials are not under employment of the US government which means they are not protected by their usual status which means they can be arrested as civilians?

[Melian]

Re ...they can be arrested as civilians...

Maybe this is why the Clintons and Obama’s did retro Christmas tweets and 43 and Podesta did no tweet at all for Christmas? Wishful thinking!

[rolling_stone]

other than congressmen going to congress, and the President, what government employee is exempt from arrest?

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

I understood that the President is not subject to arrest, and Congresmen are not subject to arrest while congress is in session. SC Justices can be arrested! I do not think there was ever any exemption for General Schedule employees for any criminal activity, and that would be who the furlough would primarily affect.

https://www.quora.com/Can-a-sitting-Supreme-Court-Justice-be-charged-with-a-crime

"... If any judge—including a Supreme Court justice—got caught shoplifting or buying illicit drugs outside work, he or she would be arrested and charged with a crime just like anyone else. The rationale for a sitting president to be beyond indictment is that the executive is a single, indispensable individual in making our government function, and the costs to the nation caused by such a distraction would be immense. In contrast, the Supreme Court (and any other courts) can still operate minus one member."

https://www.quora.com/Can-a-US-Congressman-be-indicted-for-a-crime-while-in-office

"Members of the House and the Senate

".. shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.""

"So they have some protections, but unlike a sitting president (who cannot be charged while in office according to numerous Constitutional scholars and successive Justice Departments) Congressmen can be charged."

If you want look at it here is the OPM manual on furoughs, but its directed primarily at issues of holidays, leave, and pay.

Link to Furlough Guidance Office of Personel Managment

[Jack Black]

Did you know that when the US government is shut down it means government officials are not under employment of the US government which means they are not protected by their usual status which means they can be arrested as civilians?

Government employees can be arrested as civilians (and are!) every day. Now if you mean the military, the U.S. Military are under the Military Code of Justice. But they shut down doesn't effect that.

So no, I didn't know "that", and if fact I believe you are wrong about it.