“I have the absolute right to do whatever I want …”
The guy is a wannabe autocrat with a megalomaniacal complex.
Suggested new word for Merriam-Webster’s dictionary – “Trumpian”:
The act of simultaneously being self-serving, petulant, petty, shallow, self-absorbed, bellicose, and off-the-charts bombastic.
Even if true, even if he can pardon himself from a Federal crime, congress can still impeach. (The fact Republicans won’t is beside the point).
Even if Republicans were to say…“Well, we would, but he’s been pardoned” A state charge should still be proof enough that impeachment proceedings could/should go forward. (Again, only if Republicans feel appropriately shamed into doing so. As they own media and handed that business huge tax break and less oversight, I expect them to continue to provide cover for congressional Republicans)
It’s hard to think of a better October surprise for Republican congressional candidates than Il Derpce pulling a “no pardon, no pardon, you are the pardon!”, firing Mueller, and declaring it all to be water under the bridge.
Of course, he’s such a dumbass he just might do it.
I’m reasonably certain the founding fathers of this republic would have begged to differ. Soon as they’d finished kicking the shit out of the foul usurper.
I don’t think it’s quite that open a question.
That was sort of my question. Are there any “legal scholars” not currently being paid by Trump who say he could pardon himself? Or even one Constitutional scholar who believes that power was the intent of the founders?
Guarenteed 5-4 split.
IOKIYAR Decision like Bush v Gore.
This is what happens when “My Name is Earl” gets crossed with “The West Wing”.
Next, Donald Trump announces, “I can forgive sins.”
I disagree - I think 7-2, Thomas and possibly Alito holding out. The others realize what’s at stake, even his boy Gorsuch. They’re all very worried about their legacies and granting Donald Trump, that great legal scholar, a “self-pardon” would be beyond the pale even for them.
I honestly don’'t believe that silent Clarence, Alito and house pet Gorsuch can be counted on for sanity.
EDIT TO ADD: Regarding carolson’s post above mine, I believe that Roberts is the only one worried about his legacy. He’s pretty much guaranteed to walk away from the insanity if only because he’s too young to be tarred with this fiasco for the remainder of his career on the bench.
9-0
Will cover all bets.
Maybe it’s unfounded optimism on my part, but I do believe the decision would be 9-0. If the president can pardon himself than we do not live in a democracy.
Trump is full of shit. He’s just trying to flex here because bad shit is coming down the pike. But it’s important for Senators and House members to speak clearly against this bullshit.
The pardon clause is a vestige of the divine right of kings. It is not absolute. There is an ‘except in cases of impeachment’ exception which basically means that a POTUS cannot issue self-interested pardons on matters that could be impeachable. While a pardon of D’Souza may be self-interested politically, it is not impeachable because he didn’t have anything to do with the circumstances that led to D’Souza’s prosecution (as far as we know). But a pardon of anyone related to #trumprussia is not valid. The pardon clause has not been tested in this way because our Presidents have generally been law abiding (even Nixon on this issue). But not only would a pardon be an admission of guilt and open up a lot of possibilities for Mueller, I think the pardon itself could be challenged (and successfully so). Who would have standing is an issue I’m not sure of, but I suspect members of Congress could do it (just as Sen. Blumenthal is suing Trump right now for violations of the emoluments clause).
I think Clarence Thomas enjoys employing his middle finger at everyone in America since his “high-tech lynching.” He’s filled with spite and has never gotten over it.
Anyone? current conventional wisdom would say that four justices would step up and five would capitulate and decline to intervene - and the sting of the stolen nomination is felt again…
Sure Dotard, in your pea brain world you can pardon yourself. And Stormy liked you for your personality and huge hands! However as the temporarily elected president under the Constitutional Republic that is the USofA, nope you can’t.
I like your optimism.
I used to think that there was some - well, for lack of a better term “red line” that the GOP would stop at regarding Rump’s offenses. I was wrong. Even when we retake the House, a GOP Senate still won’t proceed for impeachment.
Trump’s view of power of the President is about the same as that of Edward Longshanks. That is stuck in the 12th century.
I guess that is OK his economic views are firmly founded on 16th century mercantilism and his views of race and gender are stuck in the mid-19th century. There he is our modern “reality show” President.