House Democrats Introduce Bill to Outlaw Presidential Self-Pardons, Criminalize Corrupt Acts of Clem

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Law and Crime


MATT NAHAM
Sep 23rd, 2020, 12:18 pm

House Democrats are pushing a bill which would criminalize corrupt pardons, outlaw presidential pardons, and prevent the president or vice president from using public office to run out the clock on the statute of limitations.

The bill, titled the Protecting Our Democracy Act, aims to criminalize the presidential pardon power when it is used for corrupt purposes by adding relevant language to the federal bribery statute. 18 U.S. Code § 201, which deals with bribery of public officials and witnesses, would amend the statute to add the words “including the President and the Vice President of the United States.” The statute would read as follows [emphasis added to new wording]:

(1) the term “public official” means Member of Congress, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, either before or after such official has qualified, or an officer or employee or person, including the President and the Vice President of the United States, acting for or on behalf of the United States, or any department, agency or branch of Government thereof, including the District of Columbia, in any official function, under or by authority of any such department, agency, or branch of Government, or a juror […].

The president or vice president, being clearly lumped in to the definition of public official, would commit a federal crime if he or she “directly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity, in return for: (A) being influenced in the performance of any official act; (B) being influenced to commit or aid in committing, or to collude in, or allow, any fraud, or make opportunity for the commission of any fraud, on the United States; or (C) being induced to do or omit to do any act in violation of the official duty of such official or person.”

Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/house-democrats-introduce-bill-to-outlaw-presidential-self-pardons-criminalize-corrupt-acts-of-clemency/

[RKP5637]

1. Excellent!!! n/t

[Laelth]

2. As if the Senate is going to pass that?

This is political theater.

-Laelth

[rickyhall]

5. Do it again when we get the majority.

But I'd add, "Those who are pardoned can no longer serve in the federal government."

[Laelth]

6. Sure. That bill is fair game when we control the Senate. n/t

-Laelth

[NCjack]

8. Make the Repuke Senators run for reelection with the House bill wired around their necks.

[paleotn]

14. Yes. Point?

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

3. and the thugs will vote for it in hopes

that they can use it against joe.

[LuvJoesPartner]

4. That's sounds like a solid bill. It should have

been done after Ford pardoned Nixon. I hope that it can pass in a Democratic Majority.

[BigmanPigman]

7. They are going to have to make real laws out of the " norms" ASAP.

The fucking moron has broken every presidential norm of the past 250 years. Now we will need them to be laws since it turns out a POTUS will actually break any/all of them.

[Initech]

9. They should also introduce a law that a president has to have a valid reason for a pardon.

And they can't use it to bail out their criminal friends, like Trump did with Rod Blagojevich and Roger Stone.

[kwolf68]

10. I love it

This would apply to ALL Presidents, even Democrats, so if the Republicans think they are sacrosanct and it's the Democrats full of hubris and corruption then it should be an easy bill to support right? right? Right?

[NNadir]

11. After the last American Civil War the Constitution...

...needed a major overhaul.

This is going to end badly for sure, but it is clear that the magnificent US Constition has outlived its usefulness, as a bunch of dangerous racist radicals have successfully ignored it, albeit at their own peril, since most overthrown democracies end up in tragedy for everyone, including the perpetrators.

The judgment of history will be severe.

[roamer65]

12. The Canadian constitution is more up to date.

I’d rather be under the Canadian confederation.

[OMGWTF]

13. In my next life I'm going to be Canadian. 🇨🇦

[C Moon]

15. Yes! I've been asking about this!

[marie999]

16. To change presidential pardons would take an amendment to The Constitution.

[Jose Garcia]

18. Laws have to follow the Constitution?

How are members of Congress supposed to know that obscure fact?

[jorgevlorgan]

17. Smart political move

especially if the repugs get on board with it, but just as good if they don't.

[Harker]

19. It pays to keep a step ahead of Trumpsky's

"legal" team

[LiberalFighter]

20. Impeach him again and he can't do any more pardons while the process runs.

[klook]

21. Part of the "Make Crime Illegal" agenda.

Ridiculous that this is needed, but here we are. Recommended.