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Is there any punishment for POTUS lying to the people? Are there any departments or groups of people who are monitoring the president so that he cannot lie whenever he wants?
I am aware of the existence of the ethics office but I've never seen any actions from them.
Lying is not a crime. You and I can lie all the time. If I tell you my name is Will and your name is David there is no punishment for that. Lying is part of free speech and even the President is protected by that.
Pretty much every president has lied at some point. If you pick any particular claim you will probably find debate about whether its a lie or not, but I bet you I could even find a lie that 'honest Abe' told.
The exception here is lying under oath, which can have penalties. From US Code - Section 1621
... be fined under this title or imprisoned not more five years, or both.
US Presidents can't be criminally prosecuted, and the biggest punishment that applies to him/her is impeachment. A President could be impeached by a majority in the House, and the Senate tries the impeachment with the Chief Justice presiding. If 2/3 of the Senators vote to remove the President, he would be removed from office.
The United States Constitution says:
The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors
However, it doesn't say what constitutes High Crimes and Misdemeanors. If Congress decides so, being drunk or trespassing into someone's garden could constitute a High Crime and/or Misdemeanor. Baseline: it largely depends on Congress.
Lying is usually not a crime and can't get one prosecuted (unless it's under oath). Even if it constitutes a criminal offense, the President could not be prosecuted. It could, however, get a President impeached, and removed from office that way. After the President's removal he/she loses immunity and could be prosecuted and tried for felony.
However, if the House decides not to impeach the President, or if the Senate decides to acquit the President, nothing happens besides that he/she might not get reelected.
Well there is the press, the Washington Post from what I'm told did a good job of unpacking his lies, which is why he accuses them of being 'fake news', 'fake media' and 'an enemy of the people'.
To legally 'punish' someone (including the President), one must try them first for some indictable crime and he/she must be convicted; now, according to Article 1.2 of the Constitution it is only the Senate that has the power to do this, and in fact clause 1.4 states:
The President, the Vice-President and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanours
Note the term 'high crime'; this means that the trial is outside the ordinary judicial arrangements; and in fact formal charges would be brought by the judiciary committee of the House of Representatives, and the trial itself is held by the Senate itself - that is the jury is the Senate (the Supreme Court is only involved in upholding due process).
Now, you ask whether:
the President can be punished for lying to the people
You aren't (obviously) asking for lying in a general sense but 'lying to the people'; and nor are you (obviously, again) asking for Trump to be considered in his own person as a citizen, but as a holder of an office - the office of the Presidency, for you say POTUS and not Mr Trump.
Now what does it mean for the President to lie to the People? It's a phrase that one might find in a literary work, say a political drama or perhaps in an actual political speech; in that context it's usually understood as generally signalling a high crime.
So, in this sense and with this qualifier, then yes.
It's worth noting that President Nixon who resigned rather than be impeached had ordered an illegal wiretap on a political party and then lied about it (he was accused of a 'coverup'), here lying was part of the crime; also had it gone to the House Judiciary Committee, who would have drawn up the formal charge sheet (the Articles of Impeachment) it could well have been likely that one of the formal charges would be the 'coverup' itself.
Hence, in this particular sense too.
Section 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code: The statute spells out this purpose in subsection 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a), which states:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—
- falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device[ , ] a material fact;
- makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
- makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, …
— Wikipedia: Making false statements.
So, for example, with regard to the current news cycle, if a person intentionally makes a false accusation to the FBI, Congress, or a federal court, they can be charged and convicted. This could be the POTUS or someone acting on their behalf.
Federal Statute criminalizing lying is 18 U.S.C. sec. 1001, makes it a crime to knowingly and willfully make any materially false, fictious or fraudulent statement or representation in the course of any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative or judicial branch of the federal government. There is no requirement that the statement be under oath. Material - predictably capable of affecting (an) official decision. Extra: With holding , falsifying or misrepresentation of information is subject to the penalties for inaccurate or false statement per U.S. Criminal Code Title 18 sec 1001. 18 U.S.C. sec. 371 makes it a criminal offense to agree to lie 18 U.S.C. sec. 1502 makes it a crime to lie to a witness in an attempt to induce that witness to lie before congress or judicial hearing.
Who ever engages in any conduct with intent to convey false or misleading information under circumstances where such information may reasonably be believed and where such information indicates that an activity has taken place , is taking place or will take place is in violation of chapter. 2,10, 11b, 39, 40, 44, 111, 113b section 236 of 42 U.S.C. 2284, sec. 46502, 2nd sentence of section 46504. in other words yes lying is a crime but proving it is another story. Congress needs to ask very precise questions and demand precise answers to be able to prove something is a lie even if it seems so obvious.
Do note: An election is nothing more than a hiring process, just like most of us went through to obtain our jobs.
An 'elected official' is merely an employee, a HIRED HAND if you will. Should we consider a process by the public wherein the public directly FIRES its HIRED HAND?
Is there any punishment for POTUS lying to the people?
there can be - see what happened to nixon.
but there may not be, or may not always be - see what happened to "you can keep your doctors, ...".
and then there is this gray area where it is hard to say if a person lied - see "I didn't have sex with that woman".
so the answer to your question is a resounding "yes" and "no".
