Thread by @latimes

Trump isn't getting a second term. So can he self-pardon?

We're hitting you with a thread! Here's an opinion about how it would go down via @harrylitman.

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latimes.com/opinion/story/…

Here's what would happen:

First, Trump would have to issue himself a pardon.

Then, Biden and his attorney general would have to decide to prosecute Trump.

Then, a federal indictment would send the matter to SCOTUS.
latimes.com/opinion/story/…

But can he do it? Well it hinges on the wording of Article II:

It states that the president can "grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the US, except in cases of impeachment” latimes.com/opinion/story/…

"There is very strong basis to read the Article II pardon power as prohibiting self-pardon," Litman writes. "Self-pardon flatly contradicts a cardinal principle of Anglo-American law: No person can be a judge in his own cause." latimes.com/opinion/story/…

There are 2 other things to note: one, self-pardoning would fail the president’s constitutional responsibility to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

Two, there's another, big way Trump might face the law 😬 latimes.com/opinion/story/…

Meanwhile, president Trump’s allies hoping to reveal widespread voter fraud (which has never been shown) have their eyes Nevada latimes.com/politics/story…

Here's how Trump has been reacting to his 2020 election loss latimes.com/politics/story…

Another point that should be made is that there are very good reasons why Biden might not want to pursue legal action against Trump latimes.com/opinion/story/…