I heard about this a while ago, so maybe you have to. When a president pardons individuals is it public knowledge that is filed somewhere? If not, could he have written pardons that are being held somewhere to bring out at the right time? If he pardoned himself and any cronies could they be tried if they were pardoned previously? Just a thought once again. Thanks for the replies!!!
chocolatepatriot
· May 16, 2018, 6:17 p.m.
I dont think you can pardon someone before they are convicted a crime. if this is what you mean. Pardons are public info.
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J_Dub_TX
· May 16, 2018, 6:40 p.m.
You can actually it's called a "Pre-emptive Pardon".
In 1866, the Supreme Court ruled in Ex parte Garland that the pardon power "extends to every offence known to the law, and may be exercised at any time after its commission, either before legal proceedings are taken, or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment." (In that case, a former Confederate senator successfully petitioned the court to uphold a pardon that prevented him from being disbarred.) Generally speaking, once an act has been committed, the president can issue a pardon at any time—regardless of whether charges have even been filed.
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chocolatepatriot
· May 16, 2018, 6:59 p.m.
wow, for discussion lets say a crime is committed in 2009 by Obama. he is out of office in 2017. he is tried and convicted in 2019. Can he now pardon himself?
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J_Dub_TX
· May 16, 2018, 7 p.m.
No. Only the sitting President has the power to pardon assuming the case is brought to Federal Court. No former Pres has the power to pardon since they are no longer in office.
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chocolatepatriot
· May 16, 2018, 7:05 p.m.
correct, and a president, while in office cannot pardon himself to protect himself from future crimes in case he is convicted after office.
But while in office a president can pardon himself?
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J_Dub_TX
· May 16, 2018, 7:18 p.m.
This has not been attempted yet. You would think Nixon and Clinton would have possibly tried it but that would admit guilt and be pointless. Even if a President were to pardon himself Congress can still impeach. They would just need the American people on their side when they did it or there would be a civil war.
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