Trump should pardon....

[blackhawknj]

Biden, Harris, Pelosi et al. Everyone will wonder "What did they DO!!!"

[togor]

Parsons have to be explicitly accepted, and those would not.

[JB White]

Blackhawk, "now that's funny. I don't care who you are"

[dryheat]

Yup. Witch!

[Mark in Ottawa]

Presumably before a pardon can be issued, the person being pardoned must first have been convicted of something. Otherwise, would it not be the same as asking God for forgiveness before you sin? Not a bad idea when I think about it.......

[togor]

Presumably before a pardon can be issued, the person being pardoned must first have been convicted of something. Otherwise, would it not be the same as asking God for forgiveness before you sin? Not a bad idea when I think about it.......

Not convicted, but the language of the pardon describes an act which could be prosecuted, and acceptance of the pardon constitutes an admission of guilt. Nixon was never prosecuted but by accepting Ford's pardon admitted guilt.

[blackhawknj]

Carter gave a blanket pardon to the draft dodgers and deserters.

[Vern Humphrey]

Presumably before a pardon can be issued, the person being pardoned must first have been convicted of something. Otherwise, would it not be the same as asking God for forgiveness before you sin? Not a bad idea when I think about it.......

No. Pardons can be issued at any time -- even if you don't KNOW what offense has been committed. And accepting a pardon is not admission of guilt.

[togor]

No. Pardons can be issued at any time -- even if you don't KNOW what offense has been committed. And accepting a pardon is not admission of guilt.

Burdock v. United States finds otherwise.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burd...20the%20pardon.

[Vern Humphrey]

Some pardons expressly state that they are based on the pardoner’s decision that the defendant was actually innocent; and some legal rules expressly contemplate that — consider, for instance, the federal statute that provides for compensation of the unjustly convicted, which allows a plaintiff to prevail by showing (among other things) “that he has been pardoned upon the stated ground of innocence and unjust conviction.”

[togor]

Yes agree the language in the pardon matters, along the lines you describe.

[JB White]

As I recall Nixon was absolved of the Watergate incident. His "crime" was failing to address it when it was made known. No proof without doubt of a coverup but was guilty in the public eye. Just as Trump is guilty in the public eye and his adversaries are now catering to that for their own benefit.
Crying aloud the word impeachment for their fans. Most of the general public hasn't a clue what it really means or how difficult the actual process. Little do they realize it takes top priority and the Hill can't do jack squat until its settled.
No new cabinet positions. Nobody gets approval for office. Pretty much no new government. That's why they would rather use force to have the 25th enacted now. They feel as though somebody needs to be punished and can't really wait for due process.

[togor]

JB it's legit to think that Pence has his wits about him at present in a way that Trump may not. Especially after that speech.

[lyman]

As I recall Nixon was absolved of the Watergate incident. His "crime" was failing to address it when it was made known. No proof without doubt of a coverup but was guilty in the public eye. Just as Trump is guilty in the public eye and his adversaries are now catering to that for their own benefit.
Crying aloud the word impeachment for their fans. Most of the general public hasn't a clue what it really means or how difficult the actual process. Little do they realize it takes top priority and the Hill can't do jack squat until its settled.
No new cabinet positions. Nobody gets approval for office. Pretty much no new government. That's why they would rather use force to have the 25th enacted now. They feel as though somebody needs to be punished and can't really wait for due process.

well said,


why they can't just move on with the process/transition of power shows how fixated they are on OMB and he has to go , now,



for a group that has been preaching they are holier than thou, it shows the true colors

[togor]

They may impeach now, try later. Trump did send a mob to overrun the capitol, after all. Hard to see how that deserves a free pass, and a President is supposed to be better than that.