Trump DeSantis and pardons for Jan. 6 people

[John Smith]

I just happened to watch a rant by Joe Scarborough on this.

What he failed to do is remind everyone that Trump could have pardoned those people before he left office. Such a blanket pardon MAY have been challenged, but Ford pardoned Nixon for any crimes he may have committed, and I recall no challenge.

This seems such an obvious point to make, and it makes promises of pardons by Trump seem kind of empty.

[JayInOz]

Re: Trump DeSantis and pardons for Jan. 6 people

The orange pustule will never again be in a position to pardon anybody- although he might have a cell mate who is into role play

[skuthorp]

Re: Trump DeSantis and pardons for Jan. 6 people

I expect that if donald had pardoned them all, or any, it may have implied that there was something to be pardoned for…………..and I presume he could not pardon himself…………….

[hawkeye54]

Re: Trump DeSantis and pardons for Jan. 6 people

Nina Totenberg wrote an article on this for NPR (Jan 9, 2021) which reviewed this at length - My Google copy / paste skills are virtually non-existent, so I will not copy here. It seems to hinge on the theory that ' no one can be the judge in their own case'.


Rick

[John Smith]

Re: Trump DeSantis and pardons for Jan. 6 people

I expect that if donald had pardoned them all, or any, it may have implied that there was something to be pardoned for…………..and I presume he could not pardon himself…………….

I don't recall Trump ever being loyal to anyone. Never kept anyone, far as I can recall, from being thrown under the proverbial bus.

FACT is he could have pardoned them and chose not to. He also offered, far as I know, no help with legal fees.

[George Jung]

Re: Trump DeSantis and pardons for Jan. 6 people

I don’t believe it was ever established that Trump could not pardon himself. It seems obvious that he could not Dash but apparently this was never challenged or attempted. I’m not aware that a definitive legal opinion was ever offered.

[Ian McColgin]

Re: Trump DeSantis and pardons for Jan. 6 people

Good overview on self-pardon ambiguities is at https://www.newsweek.com/trump-grant...vernors-641150

[John Smith]

Re: Trump DeSantis and pardons for Jan. 6 people

I don’t believe it was ever established that Trump could not pardon himself. It seems obvious that he could not Dash but apparently this was never challenged or attempted. I’m not aware that a definitive legal opinion was ever offered.

To pardon himself he'd have to admit he'd done something wrong, and that might leave him open to something other than federal prosecution.

He could have issued a blanket pardon to anyone involved in Jan. 6. One can argue whether or not it would have held up in court, especially considering he put three justice on the supreme court.

FACT is he made no effort in that direction, and all those who believe the people involved in that attack should be pardoned NEED to realize that Trump had time to do so.