A pre-inauguration pardon
The most likely scenario could be that Trump would receive a pardon or a commutation of his sentence right before Inauguration Day. The whole prospect of a president being sworn into office while also behind bars is no less than a national embarrassment and even a constitutional crisis that government officials might decide to avoid.
When President Gerald Ford decided to issue a pardon to former President Richard Nixon in September 1974, this is what he stated: “My conscience dictates clearly that I cannot prolong the bad dreams that keep on reopening a chapter that’s closed.
My conscience also tells me that only I, as president, have the constitutional power to firmly shut and seal this book. My conscience also tells me it is my duty, not merely to proclaim domestic tranquility but also to use every means that I have to ensure it.”
Well, as it turned out, the pardon damaged Ford’s hopes of winning the presidency in his own right. However, he believed the self-sacrifice was worth it to restore some kind of normalcy after the Watergate scandal.
The political costs involved in pardoning Trump are also likely to be quite severe, but the national benefit of not inaugurating an inmate is probably greater than that of turning the page on Nixon.
However, Trump’s criminal liability is way more intricate than Nixon’s. President Joe Biden could easily pardon Trump for his alleged federal crimes. Biden’s authority in this matter is plenary, but if he doesn’t win in November, it expires at noon on Inauguration Day.
If Biden decides to act at all, it might seem wiser to do so right after the election rather than letting the situation completely draw out. However, Biden has virtually no power to pardon Trump for his alleged state crimes. Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, also doesn’t have the needed authority to pardon Trump of any convictions that Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis could win.
The Georgia Constitution gives the pardon decision to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, which is made up of five members, all of whom are appointed by Republican governors.
13 Responses
he needs to be in prison
Do you believe the Biden Crime Family shouldn’t go to prison too?
I hope you believe the Biden Crime Family should go to prison too? Biden doesn’t believe he can win fairly, so he uses democrat judges and prosecutors to help him win the election. That is really sad.
Wrong.
Trump violated no law. Presidents are immune to all classified doc laws, and can give permanent copies of any classified docs to anyone, including himself. The NY law Bragg used is to prevent scammers from adding false profit entries to books, and hush money NDA purchases are “legal expenses” for a celebrity. Jan 6 was protected political expression. There can be no such thing as a fraudulent elector since the parties pick them before the election, and they act in public sessions of the state legislature.
you must be Democrate. What a shame that you cannot be neutral. That really comes through with you article? It also seems you are very angry. It shows.
What is most illegal is trying to prevent an election with bogus charges against a candidate. I have NEVER seen anything as illegal as that in the whole history of the country.
Then you weren’t listening closely. The 2020 election WAS stolen with drop boxes and phony mail in ballots and the Democrat party used the Covid 19 pandemic as a cover for it….I am sorry you can’t see this. The Democrats have said out loud ” Don’t let a tragedy go to waste” (Hillary Clinton) ” We will do anything to stop Trump” (Nancy Pelosi)…. Now just take a look at all of the phony indictments against the man (Merrick Garland) and all he wants to do is make America Great Again. WHO ARE THE REAL ENEMY HERE?
This is getting SO old!
We all watched Preston Trump on January 6th give a peaceful and impressive speech
to the thousands of people who thought
the election was stolen from him. He should not be held responsible for what happened afterwards. When you watch the videos, you see the Capitol Police welcoming the people into the building. Why didn’t Pelosi bring
In the National Guard when she knew the
crowd was expected to be huge? Too many unanswered questions have to be investigated so we can, hopefully, learn
the truth about January 6th. Hopefully, when President Trump is our 47th president, we shall finally know the truth!
This Jack Smith is like a dog after a bone! Will he ever give up? His charges against President Trump are so bogus! It is hard to believe a lawyer would spend so much
time, effort and money on a case that will,
hopefull, fizzle out when President Trump
is elected our 47th President!
Trump when elected can turn the table on this ass hole and dis bar him from ever practicing law again anywhere period.
Gaurented Civil War… Take that to the bank!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I’d have voted for Debs for that reason-and his being a political prisoner due to the vindictive Wilson.