So what happens to Trump if he pardons Manafort? Nothing?

[triron]

This would be a fucking outrage.

[onecaliberal]

1. Pretty much.

[democratisphere]

2. drumpf must not be allowed. Ever.

[Mr. Ected]

3. Would the Special Counsel then unseal indictments against Trump and argue the pardon is obstruction?

And that an alleged co-conspirator cannot pardon another co-conspirator in a criminal enterprise in which they were active both active?

[bluestarone]

4. THIS is what i believe MUELLER

Has up his sleeve. Hope he can pull it off!!!

[karynnj]

5. If Trump is indicted, Manaford could be called to testify and could not take the fifth because of

The pardon. If he then lies, he can be indicted for that.

[Mr. Ected]

9. Agreed, but isn't it sad to think a treasonous traitor like Manafort

Could potentially walk from what amounts to a life sentence for his crimes, lie again on the stand, spit on our constitution, be tried for perjury, and end up with a five year sentence, max?

[karynnj]

11. Is that the max? If so, I agree with you. Nt

[former9thward]

18. No.

Neither the law or the Constitution would allow Mueller to do that.

[spanone]

6. Congress throws a party for manafort and trump gives him a cabinet position

[jcgoldie]

7. If he pardons him then he can't plead the fifth

So that's a little dicey for Trump I would suppose...

[SoCalDem]

16. Not really

If he's pardoned, I can see him moving to the Ukraine (the Russian part).. Pardoning him frees him and he has no reason to stay here and risk further trials..

[manor321]

8. My personal opinion is that it would violate the note about impeachment

The Constitution says:

...and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

The meaning of the exception is clear. The President can't pardon to protect himself from impeachment. And IMHO this would clearly violate that. I'd like to see more pundits making this case.

[triron]

10. Excellent point. Thanks.

[Volaris]

12. Careful....if I were Trump's lawyer, I would argue 'impeachment for WHOM?

perhaps it says that so the president cannot pardon a Veep or other official who has been subjected to impeacment proceedings ....or that it could mean that the president could not pardon HIMSELF...

I say this because gop lawyers will play for every advantage they can get, and because I'm not an idiot and the text of the statute doesn't specify...and I'm not even a lawyer.

Mark my words , they will try bullshit like this, and it will automatically have at least 3 supporting votes on the SC ...

I'd take those odds for the amount of money I'd charge, wouldn't you?

[jberryhill]

13. That doesn't make a tremendous amount of sense

Manafort has pleaded guilty to a variety of crimes. He is not and has not been a government official subject to impeachment.

Secondly, how does pardoning Manafort protect Trump from impeachment?

I don't understand what you mean by "The President can't pardon to protect himself from impeachment". Manafort is already guilty, the only thing left is his sentencing.

[LiberalFighter]

17. Too many pundits have empty spaces in their brains.

[jmowreader]

23. I'm not reading that at all

That clause keeps this situation from happening: Trump is impeached and convicted for all the shit he’s done. The GOP wants him back in office because fuck you, so Pence pardons him, wipes his impeachment clean, renominates him as VP then resigns after he’s approved.

If that happens the air over Sandpoint, Idaho, woul become impossible to breathe for three days from the smoke from burning Trump hats, but fortunately the Constitution says it can’t.

[world wide wally]

14. I think the state of New York is prosecuting him too.

In that case, Trump would have no power to pardon anything.

[former9thward]

19. Where are the state of New York charges?

[world wide wally]

21. I don't know, but money laundering may be one of them.

I have to look into it more.

[SoCalDem]

15. Prepare for outrage

You know he's gonna pardon him..

[triron]

20. Schiff seems to think a Trump pardon is very problematic.

per TRMS tonite.

[triron]

22. Here is Rachel's show: Begin at 42:42 for the Schiff interview.

[cbdo2007]

24. If Trump is named as an unindicted co-conspirator, can he issue a pardon??

He may already be named as one in some of the sealed documents, so he may know he can't pardon without exposing that he is a co-conspirator. I think that's why he hasn't already done it.