Can a President pardon someone who has only been indicted?

[tinrobot]

Just asking... that's one of many possibilities that may happen in the near future.

[H2O Man]

1. Yes.

And a president can pardon someone even before they are charged.

[EffieBlack]

2. E.g., Nixon.

[tinrobot]

4. What I thought... not good.

[Crabby Appleton]

15. Yes, Pres. Carter blanket pardoned Vietnam era

draft dodgers, most of whom had not been charged.

[joshcryer]

3. Presidental pardoning powers are so powerful they can pardon themselves.

Which I could see Trump doing.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobfrenkel/2017/07/21/president-trump-can-preemptively-pardon-his-advisors-and-family-but-will-he/

[unblock]

6. That's never been tested

It's unclear what the reaction would be. Surely the founders, who worried greatly about tyranny, did not intend to make a president above the law, which a self-pardon would do. That said, there's no explicit text in the constitution preventing it.

The Supreme Court would have to decide if a "pardon" inherently involves two different people.

Regardless, one would hope that even this congress would view a self-pardon as demanding impeachment and removal.

I know, I said hope,....

[Xipe Totec]

5. The president can pardon a turkey sandwich

But that won't bring the turkey back to life.

[Thor_MN]

12. The joke is that 45 ordered the execution of every Turkey that Obama pardoned

in order to undo everything that Obama did.

[Fred Sanders]

7. Who the fuck writes a constitution where a national leader can pardon themselves? Isn't

that the definition of a dictatorship? NOT what the founders intended, I guarantee. No one is above the rule of law, even a moron who has no idea what that means.

[customerserviceguy]

9. I don't think a president can be charged with a crime

But Congress has the right through the impeachment process to remove a president for "high crimes and misdemeanors" alike. They are the ultimate "court" that a president has to answer to.

Of course, a self-pardon would not be effective as to Congress' power to impeach.

[Fred Sanders]

10. Disagree. Putting one person above the law is not democracy. If Shitler did a murder..he can

not be charged? Maybe America is a dictatorship after all, as intended long ago??

[Thor_MN]

14. A President removed by impeachment loses the power to pardon.

They can then be charged with crimes which they can not pardon anyone for.

A President committing a murder would be impeached, Article 25ed, or forced to resign before being tried for the murder.

[Fred Sanders]

16. No trial...for murder. 100% wrong.

[Thor_MN]

17. Of course a trial for murder, where did I say there wouldn't be a trial?

It would happen after the President was removed from office.

Only an idiot would think that a person would remain in the White House while on trial for murder.

[Fred Sanders]

19. You claimed a President could not be CHARGED with a crime. Now you agree he can. Good.

[Thor_MN]

20. Ridiculous. You are are now confusing me with another poster.

Try reading with some semblance of comprehension, please. This is two times where you have tried to claim I said something that only exists in your mind.

I never said there would be no trial and I never said that a President could not be charged with a crime.

What I did say is that a President would be out of office before a trial could happen.

Please try reading more carefully and pay attention to who says what.

[smirkymonkey]

13. His hair "do" alone is absolutely criminal.

Can we at least lock him up for that?

[shanny]

8. don't panic--can't pardon anyone charged w/state crimes

and NY AG is deeply involved in all this too (really unfortunate for the trumps that he / they live and "work" in Manhattan).

[coolsandy]

11. If the GOP goes along with Trump pardons to obstruct justice, voters should vote them all out!

At some point, real patriot citizens must take to the streets and demand a return to orderly constitutional government or all is lost for America.

[Vinca]

18. Trump can only pardon for a federal crime.

If any of the charges are violations of New York laws (NY AG is involved), the bird is going to have to sing to stay out of the big house.