I’ve written for more than a year that #RussiaGate would culminate in constitutional crisis over the president’s pardon power. Contrary to what @realDonaldTrump or any “experts” have said, the Founders and the Supreme Court have been clear for 230 years, no one is above the law.
2/ If the President can pardon himself, he can commit any federal crime without fear of prosecution. This would include bribing members of Congress not to support impeachment proceedings, paying off witnesses against him, ordering federal contracts awarded to his children.
3/ If the President can pardon himself, he can issue executive orders that no federal jobs be given to black people or women. He can refuse to file personal or corporate income tax returns. He can refuse to pay federal taxes. He can demand financial tribute from foreign leaders.
3/ If the president can pardon himself AND issue pre-emptive pardons (as has also been asserted) then he can nullify any federal law by declaring in advance that any violator will be immune. He can obliterate the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, all workplace safety regs.
4/ In sum, if the president can pardon himself as he claims, we live in a country in which the president can declare himself a dictator.
That is not the United States of America.
That is not the United States of America.
