General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWondering here, does anyone think that the SC will have to decide if
Rump can pardon himself? Strange things happen with this asshole! Will he actually do it? (pardon himself)
Under The Radar
(3,401 posts)lame54
(35,283 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)I wouldn't put it past him to try it, but I wonder who would have legal standing to object? It would be an interesting question, for sure.
But he can't pardon anybody - including himself - for state crimes, and the Manhattan DA is waiting in the wings.
bluestarone
(16,900 posts)Finally settles it? I'm sure of a veto, BUT then Senate rethugs would have a decision to make right?
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)which has been interpreted as absolute, but so far no president has tried to pardon himself (even Nixon didn't try it, but maybe Ford had already assured him he'd be taken care of although he denied it at the time). It says: "The President ... shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of impeachment." The constitutionality of Ford's granting Nixon an open pardon (covering offenses he hadn't been charged with but could be in the future) was never tested but remains in question. If Trump pardons himself it would be an open pardon like the one Ford gave Nixon. If you want to get way down in the weeds, here's an article from 1977 that argues the Nixon pardon was unconstitutional (https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2444&context=wmlr - scroll down to p. 57 of the PDF to The Nixon Pardon) because only courts can determine whether a crime was committed and whether the pardonee committed it. Although it doesn't address the specific question of whether a president can pardon himself, the argument against the Nixon pardon would apply with even more force to Trump pardoning himself. But there's this:
bluestarone
(16,900 posts)Scary shit for sure!
Demsrule86
(68,543 posts)bluestarone
(16,900 posts)Man, That's not right! THIS needs to be addressed, so we know for sure. Shit they could do ANYTHING they wanted to for 4 years then this.
Demsrule86
(68,543 posts)character would impeach and convict such a man.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,669 posts)The State of New York, through the Manhattan DA, is already investigating the Trump Organization.
bluestarone
(16,900 posts)Next question should be, Can you indict a sitting president! We may need that answered as well.