It has been 2 months since the "Pardon Snowden" petition passed 100k signatures. No Response from WH

[n2doc]

A reminder:

Petition to Pardon Snowden to Receive White House Response

By Mary Bruce

Jun 24, 2013 5:28pm
WASHINGTON — An online White House petition calling for National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden to be pardoned has surpassed the 100,000 signatures required to receive an official response from the Obama administration.
“Edward Snowden is a national hero and should be immediately issued a full, free, and absolute pardon for any crimes he has committed or may have committed related to blowing the whistle on secret NSA surveillance programs,” the petition reads.
While the petition now has enough signatures to warrant a response, it’s unlikely the White House will grant the request. The U.S. has charged Snowden with espionage and there is currently an international manhunt under way to find the alleged leaker, who fled Hong Kong on Sunday for Moscow.
According to the We The People petition website, the White House “will do our best to respond to petitions that cross the signature threshold in a timely fashion, however, depending on the topic and the overall volume of petitions from We the People, responses may be delayed.”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/06/petition-to-pardon-snowden-to-receive-white-house-response/

If there has been one, post below

[krawhitham]

1. can you "Pardon" someone before they are convicted?

The act of pardoning. Exemption of a convicted person from the penalties of an offense or crime by the power of the executor of the laws.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pardon

[PoliticAverse]

8. "can you "Pardon" someone before they are convicted?" - Yes of Course.

Ford pardoned Nixon who wasn't tried or convicted).

See: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=71&invol=333

[n2doc]

11. Poppy Bush pardoned Iran Contra figure before trial

http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/29/reviews/iran-pardon.html

Six years after the arms-for-hostages scandal began to cast a shadow that would darken two Administrations, President Bush today granted full pardons to six former officials in Ronald Reagan's Administration, including former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger.

Mr. Weinberger was scheduled to stand trial on Jan. 5 on charges that he lied to Congress about his knowledge of the arms sales to Iran and efforts by other countries to help underwrite the Nicaraguan rebels, a case that was expected to focus on Mr. Weinberger's private notes that contain references to Mr. Bush's endorsement of the secret shipments to Iran.

In one remaining facet of the inquiry, the independent prosecutor, Lawrence E. Walsh, plans to review a 1986 campaign diary kept by Mr. Bush. Mr. Walsh has characterized the President's failure to turn over the diary until now as misconduct.

Decapitated Walsh Efforts

But in a single stroke, Mr. Bush swept away one conviction, three guilty pleas and two pending cases, virtually decapitating what was left of Mr. Walsh's effort, which began in 1986. Mr. Bush's decision was announced by the White House in a printed statement after the President left for Camp David, where he will spend the Christmas holiday.

[msanthrope]

15. And you think this was a proper use of the Executive Power? nt

[n2doc]

29. No. But it does make the point that Presidents CAN pardon without a trial or conviction n/t

[limpyhobbler]

21. Pre-emptive Presidential Pardons

Can you be pardoned for a crime before you're ever charged?

Yep. In 1866, the Supreme Court ruled in Ex parte Garland that the pardon power "extends to every offence known to the law, and may be exercised at any time after its commission, either before legal proceedings are taken, or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment." (In that case, a former Confederate senator successfully petitioned the court to uphold a pardon that prevented him from being disbarred.) Generally speaking, once an act has been committed, the president can issue a pardon at any time—regardless of whether charges have even been filed.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/07/preemptive_presidential_pardons.html

[msanthrope]

2. Can't pardon 'til the coward comes home, stands trial, and is convicted. nt

[lamp_shade]

4. Yup.

[n2doc]

5. Then why not come out and say so?

Would take all of 30 seconds...

[msanthrope]

7. Because everyone who signs is being put on a list to be monitored by the NSA.

Why would they shut that down?

It's TYRANNY, I tell you!!!

[PoliticAverse]

12. Because it isn't true. The President can pardon someone before trial and or conviction,

as was the case when Ford pardoned Nixon.

[msanthrope]

14. You think Ford's pardon of Nixon was a proper use of Executive Authority? nt

[PoliticAverse]

20. I disagreed with Ford's action (I was pissed) but legally he was entitled to issue the pardon.

There have been several other presidential pardons of people not yet convicted or tried.

(Someone else mentioned Bush's pardoning of people involved in Iran Contra for example:
http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/29/reviews/iran-pardon.html )

[msanthrope]

24. At this point, you're advocating the President to act like Ford and Bush I, and issue a

pardon before trial for Mr. Snowden.

Thanks, but no. Mr. Snowden can face the due process he deserves.

[PoliticAverse]

28. No, we're discussing whether the President can issue a pardon before a trial or conviction. He can.

That's not the same as advocating he do so. It's a moot point since he won't be issuing one anyway.

[Politicalboi]

6. LOL!

Maybe Rand Paul his hero can save his sorry ass.

[PoliticAverse]

10. Sorry but that just isn't true.

A President can issue a pardon any time after the offense has been committed.

How do you think Ford was able to pardon Nixon (who was never convicted) ?

See:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=71&invol=333

[msanthrope]

13. You cited a case from 1866 where the pardon did not take effect until the attorney

in question retook the oath to the Constitution, paid restitution, and give up his slaves.

Really? That's what you're going with?

[PoliticAverse]

16. Yes. In their long decision they discuss the extent of the President's pardoning power.

Also did you miss my mention of the historically important pardoning of Nixon by Ford ?

Nixon wasn't convicted or even tried, yet Ford was able to pardon him.

[msanthrope]

19. And you think Gerald Ford did the right thing, pardoning Nixon? nt

[PoliticAverse]

22. No I was angry when I heard about it. I thought Nixon should have been tried.

I don't think President's are above the law.

[Whisp]

23. asking for someone to get pardoned that has made such threats

as he and GG have is a bit silly.
we don't know how involved the crime is yet.

[AverageJoe90]

3. Scary stuff.

Snowden was no hero, and I seriously CANNOT fucking believe 100k people threw themselves behind a man who gave classified information *to our enemies*.

He didn't blow any whistles! He was in this for his own reasons! How much more obvious does this have to be......wake up!

[RC]

9. So you approve of our government hoovering up all of our private communications?

And searching it at their pleasure? What a fine up standing freedom loving American you are. Not!

[AverageJoe90]

18. Nope. Just not a fan of hypocritical self-serving douchebags, that's all. nt

[RC]

27. You did not really answer my question

If you have so little respect of Snowden for what he did, does it not stand to reason you approve of what the NSA is doing?
You can't have it both ways. It the NSA is engage in unconstitutional spying, then Snowden did a good thing by exposing it.
If you think the NSA is doing a good job, constitutionally and all that, then what Snowden can be considered as wrong. This is the side you seem to be on.

[Whisp]

25. Frightening.

I wonder how many of those 100k think the president is a muslin fist bumping terrier. oiy. I think Reality Shows are doing this to people's brains - making them numb for all purposes.

[bunnies]

17. Does anyone really expect Obama to respond...

to a petition calling Snowden a "national hero"? Come on, now. Be serious.

[Rex]

26. Thanks for that bit of reality.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[n2doc]

30. And building a Death Star IS a serious petition? They responded to That!!!

This Isn't the Petition Response You're Looking For
By Paul Shawcross

The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon. Here are a few reasons:

The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?


https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/isnt-petition-response-youre-looking

[bunnies]

31. lol.

Ok, well. But its obvious that ones not serious. If they responded to the Snowden petition with snark like that would you be satisfied?

[Thinkingabout]

32. DUH, the answer will be NO.