I'll Give Trump The Benefit Of The Doubt - He Might Be Innocent - But I Want Some Assurances That...

[global1]

if he and his staff and family are guilty of crimes - that they pay for their crimes and not get off with a 'get out of jail free card'.

I would like to see Trump and his family suffer the same faith as Bernie Madoff's family did. Madoff swindled some wealthy people out of a lot of money. However, if Trump and his evil cabal is found guilty, they conned the American People and are well on their way of destroying this country.

So could someone out there - Repug or Dem - someone in government, law enforcement, etc - provide me with the assurance that if Trump and his evil cabal is found guilty - that they will pay for their crimes?

[Ms. Toad]

1. There are no assurances.

Even if found guilty, Trump can pardon the rest - and Pence can pardon him.

The only real hope is for state convictions, since those are not pardonable by the president.

[SeattleVet]

3. Yep, it'll be the convictions in the states that get them...

POSOTUS can only pardon for federal crimes. A pardon for a fed crime that is also a state crime can be a huge help to the state prosecutors!

[Turbineguy]

6. I don't think Pence can pardon anybody.

He was involved. He's tainted.

Gerald Ford was not Nixon's VP during the Watergate break-in or cover-up. He was clean.

[Pachamama]

7. +1000

Completely agree....

Pence isn't clean and there is no comparison

[Ms. Toad]

8. Once he becomes president, he will have the power of the pardon.

Legally, it doesn't matter whether he was involved or not.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Innocent presidents aren't likely to be researching whether

they can pardon themselves. Innocent presidents don't try to interfere with investigations and fire people who are conducting them. It is hard to say at this point whether Trump and his minions will pay for their crimes, and if so, how. One thing to keep in mind is that a president can issue pardons only for federal crimes - not for state crimes. At least some of Trump's and Kushner's dirty deals would have occurred in NYC, and NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is already investigating. He can't fire state AGs, prosecutors or investigators, either. And state prisons tend to be far less pleasant places than federal minimum security prisons. These facts cheer me up immensely.

[Alice11111]

5. Nice to see them in orange, as Repubs put kids w mj in

state pens. The big ones get away... is how our system works. People like Mini KKK Elf Sessions go after the small guys, with public defenders. Look how many high $$ lawyers the Trumpsters have now and have always had to perpetuate their m9ney making scams.

[Solly Mack]

4. I see no reason to give him the benefit of the doubt.

but I would love for the corrupt in government to receive actual punishment for their crimes and unethical behavior.