Can Bush Pardon Stevens and thus allow him to serve in the Senate?

[Liberalboy]

Just curious as I know Presidential Pardons have no check or balance and there really isn't a reason Bush has to not do it other then save the Republicans from looking like losers. Just curious.

[Blue_In_AK]

1. Please don't put the cart before the horse

We still have 90,000 ballots to count. With any luck at all, Stevens, pardoned or not, will be out of the Senate.

[Liberalboy]

4. I'm not saying he will win...

but on the off chance he does and Bushie wants to do it, I was just curious.

[nichomachus]

The Senate sets its own rules

It can refuse to seat anyone it wants.

[corkhead]

2. a pardon doesn't undo the conviction, so it shouldn't stop him from being thrown out

[SteppingRazor]

3. Yes, Bush can pardon him. No, I don't think it will help his Senate career.

Just because he's pardoned doesn't mean he wasn't found guilty in a court of law. Republicans trying to defend Stevens on the basis of a presidential pardon will look extremely slimy to the electorate.

[CK_John]

5. Stevens no longer has anything that Bush needs, so why would Bush do anything. n/t