Yes, Trump Could Pardon Himself. Then All Hell Would Break Loose

[workinclasszero]

Yes, Trump Could Pardon Himself. Then All Hell Would Break Loose
It’s never been tried. Here’s how it could blow up his presidency, or blow up the system.
By RICHARD PRIMUS July 21, 2017

This week’s eye-popping constitutional question: Can President Trump pardon himself for criminal wrongdoing? With the Russia scandal swirling more intensely around the White House every week, the Washington Post reported Friday morning that the president might be considering pardoning himself and members of his family as a way of fending off legal consequences for whatever special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation turns up.

A self-pardon would be something new in American history — and just the kind of departure from prior norms that typifies Trump. The Constitution doesn’t specify whether the president can pardon himself, and no court has ever ruled on the issue, because no president has ever been brazen enough to try it.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/07/21/yes-trump-could-pardon-himself-then-all-hell-would-break-loose-215405?lo=ap_d1

[The Blue Flower]

1. A pardon can come only after guilt has been proven

So it really wouldn't help him or his family. They might slip out of federal consequences, but they would still have to face state-level prosecutors like the NY AG. Then there's still the court of public opinion.

[workinclasszero]

2. I don't think republicans of any kind are operating under the

court of public opinion anymore.

Trump deathcare is toxic to public opinion and still the turtle presses on and Twitler will sign whatever makes it to his desk.

Got to make you wonder why republicans no longer fear the voting public huh?

Could it be gerrymandered districts? Rigged voting machines? Republican voter suppression efforts? Russian help with online fake news and trolls plus compromising our voting system in general?

I'd say all of the above plus the 1% running the rethug show just flat out don't give a damn as long as the poor and working class are stripped of every penny to make up another lovely massive tax break for themselves.

[mythology]

9. Not true. Ford pardoned Nixon for example.

[Oneironaut]

3. He wouldn't care. The GOP bootlickers would excuse it as "Ending the Liberal fake news witch hunt!"

They'll proclaim how "brilliant" of a move it was. They'll talk about how Trump pardoned himself "despite being innocent" just to stop Liberals' "slow motion coup."

[workinclasszero]

4. Yup

I can see it now... (Freeperville/JPR)Trump kicked the Deep State's ass!!11!@!11!

This kind of move would throw the whole country into even more chaos which is the exact reason Putin put Trump in the white house!

His hardcore nihilistic racist base would LOVE IT!!!

[rzemanfl]

5. Pretty much have it there. The next question is-"How can he govern a country where most of the

people hate him?" Police state is the answer if the cops and military play ball. If some do and some won't, I think they call that civil war.

[Stallion]

6. One of The Issues-Wouldn't He Have to Define the Parameters of The Pardoned Crimes?

....that could alone could lead to Democratic landslides in 2018-and what if he didn't fully disclose the crimes by those pardoned

[YCHDT]

7. Nope, the Russia Party leadership could care less

[samnsara]

8. i don't think he can..he may try..but just think..he would create an entity that's..

...above ALL LAWS. He could break the law over and over again with NO penalty. That wont fly with anyone.