Question: What do we do if tomorrow morning, Trump pardons everyone.

[CanonRay]

Unconditionally. His idiot son, Kushner, Manafort, Flynn. The whole lot, top to bottom, even the Russians.

I posed this question in response to an O/P, and got very little in the way of response. But we all know Trump as no moral scruples whatsoever, so why wouldn't he pardon everyone? Game over, investigation done. Does he give a shit how it would look? All that would be left possible is his own impeachment, and the GOP has shown no inclination to go there.

So what would we do? I think we'd better consider this as a real possibility.

Love to hear everyone's thoughts. As far as I know, the President's pardon authority is total and cannot be overridden.

[MineralMan]

1. We can't do anything in the short term. Congress can, however.

The question really is: what would Congress do if he did that? The answer is probably that the current Congress would do nothing at all about it. That's the problem with having Republicans in control of the entire federal government.

What "we" could do is no more or less than what we can do, regardless of what happens. We can vote the Republicans out of control in the House and Senate and then, in 2020, elect a Democrat as President. That is what we can do, and we should be working on that very thing right now for the 2018 election.

[CanonRay]

2. Thanks for the response

I thought wow, crickets! But I think you are right. All this investigation stuff is just whistling past the graveyard. We are up against a truly evil, and not only unconventional person, but one who doesn't give a shit about conventions, precedents or principles. We are well and truly fucked.

What about mass civil disobedience?

[MineralMan]

6. Mass civil disobedience can send a message,

of course, but will affect nothing in the short term. Frankly, I'd rather see all of that energy put to use in helping to ensure a massive Democratic voter turnout next November. That would be an effective thing to do.

No matter how massive demonstrations might be, they will not affect the actions of Congress in Washington. Not in any time frame that would make something happen before the Mid-term elections in 2018.

I'm all about doing things that are practical and actually accomplish something.

[marylandblue]

3. A pardon at this point would be an admission of guilt

which he won't do. Also, if he pardons them, they can be forced to testify without fifth amendment protections.

[CanonRay]

4. True, but to what end.

Testify against who? A sitting President cannot be indicted, as far as I know. So again, his own impeachment is the only possibility. Do you see Ryan leading an impeachment drive, or even going along? I can't.

[boston bean]

5. He will be impeached forthwith.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. By whom? The repiglickers?

[boston bean]

12. yes, if needed before 2018..

[exboyfil]

7. There are still potential state charges

I would assume the AGs of blue states, handicapped though they are, will attempt to move forward.

If the Democrats do get back control of at least one House in 2018, then they can compel everyone under pardon to testify. I guess, in theory, the president could then pardon them for contempt of Congress or perjury. You would have to think the Republicans would be running for the exits at some point. The thing about the pardon is that it gives Congress a blank check for forcing testimony because the 5th Amendment is not in play (unless they invoke it for state charges?).

I don't know if I can predict how the voting public would react. So long as they get their Supreme Court justices, I think the conservatives in Iowa are pretty much ok with anything except maybe cutting off their healthcare.

[CanonRay]

8. OK people, gotta tell you, these responses are scaring the shit out of me

There are some really, really smart people at this site, me not being among them. I was hoping someone would tell me I'm full of shit because of this, and this, and this, and this. Not happening. I guess the California AG could indict someone, but what a shitstorm that would be.

[CanonRay]

9. Apparently, this is a prospect almost no one wants to consider.

180+ views, and we've got bupkus. I'm truly shocked. Oh well....never too early to start drinking.

[Bayard]

10. He can't pardon himself

And if he starts handing out pardons like free candy to all of his minions, I don't see how impeachment could be far behind. Even among Rethugs, because it will prove wrong-doing. Then Pence slides in and pardons Rump.

[maryellen99]

13. And don't be quick to assume that if Trump resigned Pence would pardon him

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/07/mike-pence-distances-himself-from-trump-campaign-as-don-jrs-emails-threaten-several-insiders/

[Duppers]

15. This needs to be an OP.

TY for posting, Maryellen.

[LanternWaste]

14. It would be against his best interests to pardon "everyone."

It would be against his best interests to pardon "everyone," as they could then be compelled to testify against him without the protection of the fifth amendment. Hence, investigation not merely "not done", but given a full head of steam going into the mid-term seasons.

That, in addition to a blanket pardon to all involved being a defacto admission of guilt, would place the eight GOP candidates up for Senatorial re-election in jeopardy should they allow him their support.

[CanonRay]

17. Yes, but you have him thinking like a normal, practical politician.

He is neither. He doesn't really give a shit about GOP pols or any other political considerations.

I don't agree with him being worried about testimony, since he can't be indicted as a sitting President, unless he gets impeached, which I consider remotely likely. I hope you are right, but I fear the worst from this guy.

[Orrex]

16. It would perhaps be a good time to review the letters of Thomas Jefferson