"Secret pardons"? Is there really such a thing? How would they work?

[Towlie]

How could it be officially proven that Trump issued a secret pardon while he was president? Who is the Keeper of the Official Pardon Registry? What could prevent Trump and his minions from cobbling together a pardon and claiming that Trump issued it during his presidency? Would it have to be proven that he did, or would the burden fall upon prosecutors to prove that he didn't?

[soothsayer]

1. Mostly some liar would vouch for him

[Karadeniz]

2. This was mentioned as what Trump might do for his children before leaving office. Who knows if it

Would work...it shouldn't in a free society. It's like the exact mirror image of the Carte Blanche that could send someone secretly to the Bastille, but the Trump carte blanche would secretly free criminals.

Presumably, he was going to issue blanket pardons on paper, but not announce them. Then, should the need arise, they could just pull the pardon out!

[MineralMan]

3. I do not believe such a thing would stand up in court.

Pardons are issued by Presidents publicly. I've never heard of a "secret pardon." I don't thing such a thing would be legitimate.

Even blanket pardons are questionable. A "secret pardon" would be challenged, and would end up at the SCOTUS, which would probably rule that they were unconsitutional.

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. It just means the pardon wouldn't be announced by Trump

But if the pardon recipient was ever charged for crimes committed during Trump’s administration, they would have to assert the pardon in front of a judge, and show documentation, in order for the charges to be dismissed.

[Towlie]

5. So just swing by Mar-A-Lago and pick up your back-dated Get Out Of Jail Free card?

 
?

I wonder what Trump charges for one of those.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. No...the pardon must be signed and filed (w/DOJ?) before he left office. Nt

[dchill]

6. As in, "Oh, I've already been secretly blanket-pardoned for that...

...and anything else I may or may not have secretly done!"

That sounds Trumpy.

[Bev54]

7. There is one way to find out if he did have pocket pardons

and they are quite legal, there is nothing that says the pardons need to be public. Charge them all with a federal crime and see what pops up.

[Bev54]

8. Just to clarify, the secret pardons are legal

I do not think self pardons are, including family members or co-conspirators, and could and would be challenged in court.