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U.S. Constitution Title: Trump Says He Has the Absolute Right to Pardon Himself President Trump tweeted Monday morning that he has the right to pardon himself, but that he has no reason to do so, because he’s completely innocent.
His bold, frightening assertion comes after a weekend in which the Trump administration’s legal argument — that the president can basically do whatever he wants with no repercussions — came into sharper focus.
On Saturday, the New York Times reported that Trump lawyers had sent Special Counsel Robert Mueller a letter in January arguing that their client should not be forced to sit for questioning because, as the president, he could not by definition have obstructed justice.
Then, on Sunday, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on This Week that the Constitution probably gives Trump the power to pardon himself, but that if the president were to pull the trigger, it would lead to “immediate impeachment.”
Later, Giuliani told HuffPost that even if Trump had shot former FBI director James Comey, he couldn’t be indicted while in office.
In reality, a presidential self-pardon is a constitutional gray area, the kind of weak spot in the document that Trump excels at exploiting.
In a Foreign Policy examination of the issue last year, Brian Kalt wrote that if the president tried the maneuver, he would “have a very simple case that his self-pardon was valid: There is nothing in the Constitution that explicitly forbids it.” Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 10. the president can basically do whatever he wants with no repercussions
None of his "pardons" can protect himself or any of his toadies from Mr. Mueller's close friend, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
#5. To: Jameson (#2) None of his "pardons" can protect himself or any of his toadies from Eric Schneiderman is not the New York Attorney General. Barbara Underwood is the NY AG. Mueller's close friend was forced to resign within 24 hours of a sex scandal breaking.
#8. To: nolu chan (#5) Barbara Underwood is the NY AG. Correct. - Thanks - I don't follow too closely, as you can see.
My point remains valid.
#9. To: Jameson (#8) My point remains valid. No, it does not. Any President has plenary authority to issue pardons, except in cases of impeachment. The threat a self-pardon would pose is impeachment. A state action goes nowhere while he is still in office.
#10. To: nolu chan (#9) My point remains valid.
SH45 cannot save Cohen or Mannafort or any of his other stooges from state charges.
Likewise, once he is out of office through resignation or removal, (or end of term) even a pardon of himself will not protect him from state charges.
I'm not an attorney, but the concept is fairly simple....
Replies to Comment # 10. once he is out of office through resignation or removal, (or end of term) even a pardon of himself will not protect him from state charges. Correct. Two to six years from now, the state can bring charges, but for WHAT? Cohen and Manafort have no immunity, and there are no state charges.
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