Pardons may backfire on the grand idiot boy

[Shanti Mama]

I think it was on Preet Bharara's podcast yesterday that I learned this.

A pardon does not negate the possibility of being subpoenaed to testify against someone else.
If pardoned, a witness can not take the 5th because they are no longer in jeopardy.

So, pardoning Manafort, Cohen, etc could actually backfire on the monster boy. They could still be required to testify against him and would have to tell the WHOLE truth, regardless of what might have been the implications for them if they were still in jeopardy.

Coming to understand this really made my day! I would prefer that they ALL go to prison for life, but I'll settle for the big idiot doing the rest of his life there.

[unblock]

1. the pardon is most effectively issued on the last day of a presidency.

it can therefore cover the longest time period, including perjury or obstruction.

donnie does best (to further his own crimes, that is) by essentially promising it but not issuing any real pardons yet.


issuing a pardon now does remove the 5th amendment protections for crimes covered by the pardon, but only at the federal level. it's still possible to assert 5th amendment protections if testifying might incriminate you in a state-level crime.

but yeah, donnie's doing the right strategic thing by pardoning random people to signal that he's willing to do it.


what a mess we have.

[Shanti Mama]

4. I understand all that.

I just think it's important to know that they can testify against him, and MUST.
Sure, a contempt charge can be pardoned over and over and over, but really?

[asiliveandbreathe]

2. I was just going to look that up - tks....

If pardoned, a witness can not take the 5th because they are no longer in jeopardy.

OUR children - and I will use the term - Internment camps - haunting -

From Zoes twitter feed earlier....

Hate to rip him apart from his family...but...well...it's the law...so sayeth the Trump Administration

[tableturner]

3. But can refuse to testify, be charged with contempt, then pardoned again for the contempt charges.

[Shanti Mama]

5. Can't they just continue in a cycle until someone calls chicken?

I can't imagine it could go on indefinitely.