Help me out with something re: Libby

[Orrex]

Can Bush pardon him or not? There was a bunch of good discussion here when he was found guilty (Mmmm! "Found Guilty." Let me repeat that a few times...

Found guilty.

Found Guilty.

FOUND GUILTY.

Ah... That's the stuff)

but I kind of got lost in the middle of all of it. Does Bush have the legal authority to pardon him, if he so chooses? Or is Libby's conviction beyond Bush's jurisdiction?

Sorry if this is a dumb question--I know very little about the subject and would benefit greatly from a kind soul willing to spell it out for me.


Thanks!

[MNDemNY]

1. Yes he can, with the stroke of his pen.

[Orrex]

3. Well...

At a glance, that was my thought as well, but I recall several discussions about jurisdictional obstacles facing the President in this case. I can't give a better articulation than that, which is why I posted my question ITFP.

Not, of course, that I expect any matter of legality to prevent Dubya from doing whatever the hell he wants, of course.

But thanks for the reply in any case!

[Hart2008]

2. The President can pardon anyone he wants...

with the possible exception of himself. It is in the Constitution as the power of the President.

[rock]

4. He can.

As long as it is a federal crime.

[Orrex]

5. Ah! Thank you!

That was the piece (obvious, now that you mention it) that I was missing.

[On the Road]

6. Actually, Is it Even Necessary for It to be a Federal Crime?

Pardons are all over the map -- Clinton pardoned his brother for drug charges. Can the president pardon for a state or local offense?

[MNDemNY]

7. Does not have to be a federal crime.

[Igel]

8. He can only pardon offences against the United States.

Not against the State of New York or Washington.

"... he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment" Art. 2, Sect. 2.

[Igel]

9. The president can pardon him, without a doubt. He's been

convicted of a crime against the United States, i.e., in Federal court. However, Libby must accept the pardon. He can simply not accept it; then the conviction stands.

With accepting a pardon comes a nasty implication: He may get out of jail, but he simultaneously admits that he was guilty. Only a guilty man can be pardoned.