I Beg Your Pardon in the Rose Garden.

[MeDotOrg]

Trump makes you realize how much we took for granted in the running of the country. Presidents have always had the unlimited Pardon power that Trump posseses. Yes, many Presidents have pardoned the connnected or cronies. But there has been a sense of respect about the absolute power of the pardon.

There are a lot of Presidential behaviors where we now have to ask ourselves "But what if another Trump comes to power?" Madison was brilliant in designing the separation of powers, but the absolute power of the pardon is certainly ripe for abuse in the wrong hands.

[Some Schmo]

It cannot be stressed enough just how stupid this family is. Apparently, they don't realize that accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt, and removes all possibility of future refuge in the 5th amendment.

So to Doc's point, what crimes would the Trump's be admitting to, given we haven't seen any charges?

And by the way, pardons don't provide a lifetime immunity. You don't become above the law with a pardon. Their crime family will still be a crime family.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

I just hope that Biden nuts up and authorizes the DoJ to investigate them. I don't care if the Right thinks its a hit job. I don't care what the Right thinks about anything, anymore. I care about the law being upheld, and if the Trump crime syndicate gets away with their crap we're setting an incredibly disastrous precedent.

- Doc

[Res Ipsa]

I just hope that Biden nuts up and authorizes the DoJ to investigate them. I don't care if the Right thinks its a hit job. I don't care what the Right thinks about anything, anymore. I care about the law being upheld, and if the Trump crime syndicate gets away with their crap we're setting an incredibly disastrous precedent.

- Doc

I don’t think the President has to authorize an investigation. Just get back to a hands off approach and let the DOJ do its job.

[Some Schmo]

I just hope that Biden nuts up and authorizes the DoJ to investigate them. I don't care if the Right thinks its a hit job. I don't care what the Right thinks about anything, anymore. I care about the law being upheld, and if the Trump crime syndicate gets away with their crap we're setting an incredibly disastrous precedent.

- Doc

I don’t think the President has to authorize an investigation. Just get back to a hands off approach and let the DOJ do its job.

Agreed, and Biden has already said this was what the president should do. Trump has made us forget a lot of what a civil democracy is about.

ETA: However, I echo Doc's desire for investigations. I hope the DOJ goes to town on these thugs.

[Gadianton]

How do pardons work, anyway?

I'd always assumed that a pardon is only for convictions, and the motivation for them is as a check on the judicial system. I can't see how any "check and balance" logic would work beyond pardons for actual convictions or at the bare minimum, charges filed.

The scenarios for the current administration seem to be:

a) blank-check pardons for unspecified crimes.

I can't imagine a scenario where such a pardon could be anything other than a result of corruption, and hard to imagine it's allowed.

b) The only way to correct (a) without at least charges on file would be an admission of guilt from the perpetrator.

that seems like a bet few would take without strong precedence for it working.