Washington Post is reporting that WH is exploring pardoning powers

[lanlady]

A headline just popped up on my news feed but I don't have a link yet. Will be in tomorrow's Post. These treasonous SOBs are plotting how to escape punishment.

[teach1st]

1. Trumps lawyers seek to undercut Muellers Russia investigation

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-lawyers-seek-to-undercut-muellers-russia-investigation/2017/07/20/232ebf2c-6d71-11e7-b9e2-2056e768a7e5_story.html?utm_term=.6b5aa532b87d

Some of President Trump’s lawyers are exploring ways to limit or undercut special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s Russia investigation, building a case against what they allege are his conflicts of interest and discussing the president’s authority to grant pardons, according to people familiar with the effort.

Trump has asked his advisers about his power to pardon aides, family members and even himself in connection with the probe, according to one of those people. A second person said Trump’s lawyers have been discussing the president’s pardoning powers among themselves.

[sunonmars]

2. Go on try it, We will cause civil unrest if you do. People need to get out on the streets if they do

[lanlady]

13. Thanks for posting the link, teach1st!

N/t

[NewJeffCT]

3. Treason is an exception to the pardon power

just wanted to throw that out there

[unblock]

7. not that i'm aware of.

the constitution only says the pardon power doesn't apply to the impeachment process.
otherwise it applies to any federal law, including treason.

it doesn't apply to *state* law, which is why i'm really rooting for the new york attorney general to find something juicy.



Section 2
1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

[NewJeffCT]

16. you're correct

I'm wrong. I blame Donald Trump for my confusion

[C_U_L8R]

4. They may need to take down Trump first

[unblock]

5. i call bullsh*t.

there's no way they didn't become experts on presidential pardon power by january 21.

they're not cracking the books open for the first time just now.

[LisaM]

8. No, but he may not have expected his family to need pardons so quickly.

I wonder if this means the probe is extending to Ivanka. I never get the feeling that he cares what goes on with the rest of them.

[unblock]

11. i don't think he has their best interests at heart, only his own; that said,

i do think he figures that any embarrassment that comes to his preferred kids (i.e., not tiffany and probably not baron) reflects poorly on him, especially if it's related to his business empire. and *that*, he cares about.

[skylucy]

14. Rachel Maddow just reported the probe will extend to Ivanka.

[LisaM]

15. Aha!

I thought so!

[LisaM]

6. I acutally think that this could be the thing that sinks him with his base.

For whatever reason, a lot of them identify with him and think he's one of them. If he starts blatantly abusing power like this, I predict that will be the thing that loses him his base.

[unblock]

10. so hard to know with fakesnews lying to them all day long.

they'll set it up by shouting "witch hunt" all day long for a few months, and by the time the pardons are actually issued (or revealed), the right-wing sheep will not be able to distinguish it from exoneration.

we'll be left with only congressional investigations of the so-called witch hunters. how dare they try to pin something illegal on dear leader.

[Jersey Devil]

9. Rachel just reported on this - nt

nt