Question on Flynn Pardon

[_moksha]

Could a pardon to Michael Flynn be declared invalid since it would be granted in furtherance of his crime by a co-conspirator? I imagine the rules on this are a little murky since lawmakers do not always take into account a fox in the henhouse scenario.

[_MeDotOrg]

Could a pardon to Michael Flynn be declared invalid since it would be granted in furtherance of his crime by a co-conspirator? I imagine the rules on this are a little murky since lawmakers do not always take into account a fox in the henhouse scenario.

I'd doubt it. I'm not sure if Trump was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator for the Flynn case. The President's special status (According to DOJ policy) shields him from indictment while in office. I think you've got the fox in the henhouse right. Many of the norms of Presidential conduct that Trump has shredded are not strictly codified. That they have been standards of decency and decorum that have guided previous Presidents troubles the current White House occupant not one bit.

A Trump defeat in 2020 would probably mean that some types of Executive behavior will be more strictly codified and constrained.

[_honorentheos]

I don't know. I'm inclined to think the next time there is a Democrat in the White House and a Republican controlled House the President will be impeached because. Other than that it seems to be an arms race that neither side who has the arms will relinquish readily. We seem to be in a democratic death spiral.