General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf a president can pardon himself/herself, why not pardon yourself as soon as you are sworn in?
Pardon me. But we don't have a king or emperor.
samnsara
(17,650 posts)NYC Liberal
(20,137 posts)They can only pardon for crimes already committed even if there hasnt been an indictment or conviction.
Cosmo Blues
(2,497 posts)So you do it at the end if that's legal. Most don't think it is legal or constitutional so look for president Pence the last couple of days of Trump's presidency
LuvNewcastle
(16,860 posts)just getting started when they take the oath of office. The serious criminality is to take place while in office. Through the years, they've made it so that a President can't be charged for a crime while in office, so he doesn't need the pardon until he leaves.
kurtcagle
(1,604 posts)The pardon was originally seen as an act of compassion on the part of a benevolent ruler, based upon the notion of clemency on the part of governors. The idea is that a person who commits a crime may end up performing certain acts later that at least partially mitigate the committing of the crime. However, it has increasingly come under criticism given the fact that should a president commit conspiracy, they can use the pardon to exonerate themselves either directly or indirectly (through a proxy, such as a vice president). Should Trump pardon himself, then the new AG SHOULD take this to the SCOTUS with the argument that the intent of the constitution is being violated.
As has been observed more than once on DU, having been appointed to the SC, the judges at this point DO have a lifetime appointment, meaning that their positions are more or less immune to anything that Trump attempts. This means that SCOTUS may in fact use this opportunity to clarify and limit the scope of pardons, as it falls within the judicial branch. This would be far faster than attempting to set up a constitutional amendment to deal with it.
keithbvadu2
(36,958 posts)If the SC approves Trump pardoning himself, can they limit it to a one-time occurrence?
Back in the dusty cobwebs, I think I remember a court limiting a decision to just a single situation.
Solomon
(12,319 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,958 posts)What I meant is: can they deny the ability to later Presidents?
Such as Democrats?