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Showing Original Post only (View all)Trump's endgame for the next month [View all]
There's one thing that perplexes me and that's what Trump will do at the end of his presidency. How will he leave the White House?
Specifically, how will he protect himself from being prosecuted for his crimes as president? There are really only three choices:
1. He makes a deal with Pence, resigns and President Pence grants Trump a full and unconditional pardon. I know there are legal questions about whether such a pardon would be invalid since it was a conspiracy to cover bad acts. For the moment, let's say Trump gets a pardon and the feds can't go after him. Now all he has to worry about are the states' AGs, his financial lenders and maybe some Russian characters.
2. Trump grants himself a full and unconditional pardon and then he only has to worry about the same three categories. Except for one thing: If a self-pardon were challenged and decided by the Supreme Court, there's no guarantee that SCOTUS would uphold the pardon since it invalidates the judiciary, (Trump would be his own judge and defendant). If the pardon is thrown out, Trump would face all of the above plus possible federal indictments.
3. Trump doesn't do a thing. He can't trust Pence and after SCOTUS wouldn't help him overturn the election, he can't trust them, either. So he takes his chances knowing that he can play his usual rope-a-dope and just string along any legal issues.
Basically, Trump has a whole world of trouble facing him come January 21st. I just can't see what he'll do.
If anyone can imagine other alternatives, I'd love to hear it!