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I understand that the President has pretty much no limits on his ability to pardon someone for a crime, but if it's used specifically to pardon people that may be able to testify against the president for crimes he has committed in order to prevent prosecutors from turning another criminal against the president where is anywhere could a line be drawn. If Mueller says to someone like Manfort I'll let you off easy in exchange for testimony against Trump, Manfort can just say, "Why? Trump will pardon me of anything you convict me of anyway. So who cares?"
What if anything prevents the president from using his ability to pardon someone else to keep turncoats from testifying against his own crimes?
The NYS Attorney General.
I understand that the President has pretty much no limits on his ability to pardon someone for a crime, but if it's used specifically to pardon people that may be able to testify against the president for crimes he has committed in order to prevent prosecutors from turning another criminal against the president where is anywhere could a line be drawn. If Mueller says to someone like Manfort I'll let you off easy in exchange for testimony against Trump, Manfort can just say, "Why? Trump will pardon me of anything you convict me of anyway. So who cares?"
What if anything prevents the president from using his ability to pardon someone else to keep turncoats from testifying against his own crimes?
Right. Trump can only pardon federal not state crimes. A Trump pardon would not prevent prosecution in a state court.
The NYS Attorney General.
I never knew that. Thanks!
Right. Trump can only pardon federal not state crimes. A Trump pardon would not prevent prosecution in a state court.
I understand that the President has pretty much no limits on his ability to pardon someone for a crime, but if it's used specifically to pardon people that may be able to testify against the president for crimes he has committed in order to prevent prosecutors from turning another criminal against the president where is anywhere could a line be drawn. If Mueller says to someone like Manfort I'll let you off easy in exchange for testimony against Trump, Manfort can just say, "Why? Trump will pardon me of anything you convict me of anyway. So who cares?"
What if anything prevents the president from using his ability to pardon someone else to keep turncoats from testifying against his own crimes?
Right. Trump can only pardon federal not state crimes. A Trump pardon would not prevent prosecution in a state court.
Right. Trump can only pardon federal not state crimes. A Trump pardon would not prevent prosecution in a state court.
Where is that written? What is your basis for thinking that? That seems debatable at best.
Where is that written? What is your basis for thinking that? That seems debatable at best.
It came up a bit ago when people were discussing whether Trump can pardon himself.
No he can't, because it's a separation of powers issue. It would negate the power of Congress to impeach, and that's not possible.
Most legal scholars agree he cannot, but it has never been tested before SCOTUS.
Congress (IIRC) can impeach for high crimes and misdemeanors. If he pardon himself, could it be considered a high crime and Congress if the votes were there, impeach, then it would be of to SCOTUS???
To pardon himself, he would have to have already committed a crime.
Was Nixon convicted of any crime(s)?
I understand that the President has pretty much no limits on his ability to pardon someone for a crime, but if it's used specifically to pardon people that may be able to testify against the president for crimes he has committed in order to prevent prosecutors from turning another criminal against the president where is anywhere could a line be drawn. If Mueller says to someone like Manfort I'll let you off easy in exchange for testimony against Trump, Manfort can just say, "Why? Trump will pardon me of anything you convict me of anyway. So who cares?"
What if anything prevents the president from using his ability to pardon someone else to keep turncoats from testifying against his own crimes?
No, and neither would that be necessary before Congress would have opportunity to impeach.
Now to Trump- no convictions as you noted was needed, and for the sake of discussion he pardons himself.To pardon himself, he would have to have already committed a crime.
So no crimes convicted of then pardoned.
If he was not pardoned, could Congress still impeach after he resigned?
If so, what penalty could they assign?
No he can't, because it's a separation of powers issue. It would negate the power of Congress to impeach, and that's not possible.
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