Do federal officials have “absolute immunity” from state criminal law? No. But they do have a powerful defense described as the Supremacy Clause immunity. This legal doctrine can block a state prosecution when a federal officer was acting within lawful federal duties and used only what was necessary and proper. See Lawfare for more details.
In this episode, former prosecutor Arthur Busch breaks down the real test courts apply, how cases can be removed from state court to federal court under the federal-officer removal statute, and what facts tend to decide these cases in practice.
And one point that gets misstated constantly: a presidential pardon does not reach state crimes—so it cannot wipe out a state conviction.
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