Biden's preemptive pardons

[CTyankee]

https://www.aol.com/biden-preemptive-pardons-could-fauci-171232292.html

This just blows my mind that Biden feels he must do this for these individuals. Most mind boggling of all is Dr. Fauci. I am finding it difficult to even think that these individuals could be harmed by Trump.

Apart from these pardons, what else can Biden do? And can Trump attempt to "undo" the pardons and still go after these people?

[Silent Type]

1. Think trump is blustering, remember "Lock her up." But, pardons seem prudent just in case MFer turns his henchmen loose.

[WestMichRad]

2. I think these are a really bad idea.

As I noted in a reply to a recent post (that I suspect was seen by few), there are at least a few reasons why they are a bad idea.

First , a pardon is essentially a legal forgiveness of guilt, and presumably these intended recipients aren’t actually guilty of committing crimes. The intention here is to indemnify them from prosecution.

A “preemptive pardon” is untrodden legal ground, AFAIK. We don’t know how courts will treat them. Will courts actually recognize them as legitimate to protect the prospective defendant from prosecution?

Perhaps my biggest concern with the idea of preemptive pardons is that, if upheld by courts, it will be used indiscriminately in the future. We all expect the next administration will be quite gifted at both criming and coverups, and if our democracy isn’t totally tanked by these bozos (I’m still hopeful for our future!), preemptive pardons would be widely issued and prevent any accountability for their misdeeds.

But I suppose if y’all are convinced that our system of government is about to crumble, then preemptive pardons are a great idea and should be widely issued. That’s a pretty sad statement about where we are mentally these days.

[CTyankee]

4. Your post made me stop and think and I am still turning it over in my mind.

Your thoughts about Trump using them himself gives me pause. However, he probably knows about it and has it up his sleeve already, regardless of what Biden does. After all, it isn't a big secret that a POTUS can do this.

However, its usage in a strong way "legitimizing" this power is making it dangerous in the wrong hands, as you have pointed out.

This has to be weighed in view of the real suffering of people treated so disgracefully by Trump. So if Trump starts to misuse it we must be aware, watchful and PREPARED to have a strong response.

Thank you for your insightful post.

[Skittles]

5. yup: Biden sees the INCOMING FASCISM

NORMALLY it would not be a good idea

THESE ARE NOT NORMAL TIMES

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. It's like people don't have the memory of Bush 1 pardoning all his Iran contra co conspirators to stop the investigation

[cadoman]

8. POTUS has broad powers to use this power at their discretion--even in extreme circumstances

Which are arguably where we're at. Like others have mentioned, "lock her up" turned out to be bluster, but if a public servant with a record as great as Fauci is at risk of being charged...well then we need to break out these tools.

Nixon's pardon seems to be the one that most closely fits the broad pardon language Biden is using, and I believe it'll only be used for exceptional individuals whose potential criminality is wholly implausible.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Republicans weigh in on preemptive pardons in unintentionally funny ways

Jim Jordan claimed preemptive pardons are unnecessary because Donald Trump “has never been about retribution.” Maybe he meant a different Donald Trump?

Jim Jordan claimed preemptive pardons would be "ridiculous" because "Donald Trump has never been about retribution."

Maybe he was referring to a different Donald Trump? Because the one we know has *always* been about retribution. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2024-12-06T14:01:11.543Z

Jim Jordan claimed preemptive pardons would be "ridiculous" because "Donald Trump has never been about retribution."

Maybe he was referring to a different Donald Trump? Because the one we know has *always* been about retribution.

Link to tweet

Republicans weigh in on preemptive pardons in unintentionally funny ways https://msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republicans-weigh-preemptive-pardons-unintentionally-funny-ways-rcna183152?cid=eml_dl | We all know the President who accused the DOJ and state AG's of witch hunts when it came to indicting him wants to hunt witches of his own when persecuting his "enemies within".

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republicans-weigh-preemptive-pardons-unintentionally-funny-ways-rcna183152

For a variety of reasons, it’s not an easy call, but for many Republicans watching the discussion unfold, all of this is wildly unnecessary......

But the pièce de resistance came from Republican Rep. Jim Jordan. HuffPost noted the Ohioan’s head-shaking on-air comments to Fox Business host Larry Kudlow:

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said Thursday Donald Trump has ‘never been about retribution’ as the White House weighs the idea of preemptive pardons for people that have long been in the president-elect’s crosshairs.

The far-right House Judiciary Committee chairman began by calling the idea of preemptive pardons “ridiculous,” before telling the television audience, in apparent seriousness, “Donald Trump has never been about retribution.”

Perhaps he was referring to a different Donald Trump?......

As for the near future, the president-elect effectively ran on a retaliatory platform: Trump said he wanted to pursue his perceived domestic political enemies, and he didn’t seem especially interested in hiding his intentions. On the contrary, he talked about his desire to abuse presidential powers all the time.

Reasonable people can disagree about the merits of preemptive pardons, but the question of whether or not Trump has unprecedented vengeful ambitions has already been answered.

[Takket]

7. i don't think he should pardon any of them. that just plays right into drumpf's hands that Dems are all criminals

if you don't pardon them, then they actually have to prove something (which they can't do, other than bullshit that might come up like they investigate Biden for funneling money from China and end up convicting him of lying on a firearm form).