General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: *****BREAKING*****WAPO- Trump considering pardoning himself and criminal associates [View all]Texin
(2,594 posts)After hearing this stunning report (at least it would have been stunning if he's able to actually do anything now that does have the power to stun), that's the only conclusion I can actually make in this circumstance. Obviously, he can't pardon himself. And from everything I know about how the pardon process actually works, the individual being granted a pardon must first have been prosecuted and convicted of a crime for which there has been an actual sentence and/or damages rendered. In other words, how can he pardon himself or anyone else until the full legal process is concluded. He can't preemptively pardon himself or anyone else.
It sounds as if he is beginning to resign himself to an inevitable process that will (probably) drive him out of office in the face of possible actions on his part, i.e., firing Mueller, and maybe Rosenstein (or forcing his resignation), which would then (probably) result in a formal process of impeachment. It just sounds like he is thinking of stalling and casting a life preserver to Don Jr. and anyone else involved in this investigation and then resigning and allowing Pence to pardon him, and he may be considering having conversations with key repuke legislators in order to effect this.