Wondering here, does anyone think that the SC will have to decide if

[bluestarone]

Rump can pardon himself? Strange things happen with this asshole! Will he actually do it? (pardon himself)

[Under The Radar]

1. What brave law firm could he get to represent him in that case?

[lame54]

2. Why doesn't he do that daily?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. It's possible.

I wouldn't put it past him to try it, but I wonder who would have legal standing to object? It would be an interesting question, for sure.

But he can't pardon anybody - including himself - for state crimes, and the Manhattan DA is waiting in the wings.

[bluestarone]

4. After 1st week of Jan. couldn't the senate and house (if we have control) pass a bill that

Finally settles it? I'm sure of a veto, BUT then Senate rethugs would have a decision to make right?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. The Constitution grants the president the power to pardon,

which has been interpreted as absolute, but so far no president has tried to pardon himself (even Nixon didn't try it, but maybe Ford had already assured him he'd be taken care of although he denied it at the time). It says: "The President ... shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of impeachment." The constitutionality of Ford's granting Nixon an open pardon (covering offenses he hadn't been charged with but could be in the future) was never tested but remains in question. If Trump pardons himself it would be an open pardon like the one Ford gave Nixon. If you want to get way down in the weeds, here's an article from 1977 that argues the Nixon pardon was unconstitutional (https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2444&context=wmlr - scroll down to p. 57 of the PDF to The Nixon Pardon) because only courts can determine whether a crime was committed and whether the pardonee committed it. Although it doesn't address the specific question of whether a president can pardon himself, the argument against the Nixon pardon would apply with even more force to Trump pardoning himself. But there's this:

One element in the nature of the pardoning power is predominant when that power is analyzed through American constitutional theory. Alone among the powers enumerated in the Constitution, the power to pardon proceeds unfettered. Thus, of all the powers of the United States' tripartite system of government, this power has the greatest potential for abuse, for from "power unrestricted, comes impunity to delinquency in all shapes .... ." Neither the Congress nor the courts can question the motives of the President in the use of the power. Although nothing higher than the laws should exist in a democracy, one constitutionally-sanctioned exception to this noble theorem permeates the American system. "To the executive alone is entrusted the power, and it is entrusted without limit." The only "rule" governing the use of the power is that the President shall not exercise it against the public interest, though he alone is given the discretion to define the public interest.

[bluestarone]

9. WOW just WOW! TY

Scary shit for sure!

[Demsrule86]

5. They can't stop him...equal branches. He probably can pardon himself.

[bluestarone]

6. Your probably right BUT

Man, That's not right! THIS needs to be addressed, so we know for sure. Shit they could do ANYTHING they wanted to for 4 years then this.

[Demsrule86]

7. The presidency was never designed for a crook like Trump...the idea was men of good

character would impeach and convict such a man.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. He can't pardon himself for state crimes.

The State of New York, through the Manhattan DA, is already investigating the Trump Organization.

[bluestarone]

11. YES i knew this. Thank God!

Next question should be, Can you indict a sitting president! We may need that answered as well.