Here is what the US Constitution says:
Article II, Section 2
1: The President ... shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
So, I guess he CAN pardon himself unless he is impeached.
But I don't think it would be wise to do such a thing. It's not even a good idea to talk about doing it.
He should do what Pat Buchanan suggests - resist the subpoena, do NOT answer any questions, and dare Congress to impeach him:
The only institution that is empowered to prosecute a president is Congress. If charges against Trump are to be brought, this is the arena, this is the forum, where the battle should be fought and the fate and future of the Trump presidency decided.
You can read the rest @
http://buchanan.org/blog/memo-to-trump-defy-mueller-129254
Or resign, and let Pence pardon him.
Diatribes such as this one are based upon what the author WANTS the US Constitution to say, not what it DOES say:
ReplyDeletehttps://dissidentvoice.org/2018/06/the-power-of-self-pardon-trumps-novel-view/
Here is what it DOES say:
Article II, Section 4
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Self pardon is not one of the listen offences.
Here is the way this SHOULD work - The House impeaches (for a REAL crime), the Senate convicts, and then Trump CANNOT pardon himself.
Let the charges begin.