General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: *****BREAKING*****WAPO- Trump considering pardoning himself and criminal associates [View all]Shoonra
(520 posts)The President's pardoning power is nearly unlimited. Just like Congress's impeachment power.
In June 1788, at the Virginia state convention called to ratify the proposed National Constitution, George Mason said:
"Now, I conceive that the President ought not to have the power of pardoning, because he may frequently pardon crimes which were advised by himself. It may happen, at some future day, that he will establish a monarchy and destroy the republic. If he has the power of granting pardons before indictment or conviction, may he not stop inquiry and prevent detection? The case of treason ought, at least, to be except. This is a weighty objection with me. ..."
To which James Madison answered:
"There is one security in this case to which gentlemen may not have adverted; if the President be connected in any suspicious manner with any person, and there be grounds to believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him, they can remove him if found guilty.... This is a great security."
[Jonathan Elliot, Debates in the several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, vol. 3 (1901, Phil., Lippincott) pages 497-498.]