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In reply to the discussion: What's stopping trump from selling more pardons after he leaves office, [View all]grantcart
(53,061 posts)33. The OP was referring to a spot on O'Donnell by an expert on pardons
O'Donnell used the term secret for pardons that were unannounced and later released.
The expert said that pardons needed to be provable (ie have a witness) but did not need to be documented or notarized. It could be a verbal utterance as long as there were credible witnesses.
She also explained it could be done for an entire group. Trump could look into a camera and say "I pardon everyone who entered the capital for federal trespassing charges" and it would be legal.
Among the many things we have never had to worry about before.
Probably the only reason he doesn't do it is because he is worried about his civil exposure.
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What's stopping trump from selling more pardons after he leaves office, [View all]
duforsure
Jan 2021
OP
I was simply trying to recreate the context on "The Last Word" that the OP had obviously seen
grantcart
Jan 2021
#44
I understand your concern about limiting the pardon. But that idea isn't a good one
StarfishSaver
Jan 2021
#46
Person w pardon, even public pardon, can be charged in court. See Burdick SCotUS 1915
Bernardo de La Paz
Jan 2021
#12
He could try to sell them to suckers. But I don't think secret pardons have been tested in court. nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Jan 2021
#19
That's what /should/ happen (assuming "secret" in the first place) and what would...
JHB
Jan 2021
#35
Maybe the date/time of the pardon(s) have to be time-stamped and witnessed to prove
no_hypocrisy
Jan 2021
#7
He can use agents, but that does not make it legal in any way. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Jan 2021
#20
I think there should be a numerical limitation on pardons whether secret or otherwise.
dreamland
Jan 2021
#26
The Supreme Court has blessed pre-conviction pardons and not all pardons mean guilt
onenote
Jan 2021
#42