Forum Overview :: Balance of Power :: Could Trump Pardon Himself?

[quote name="Commander Tansin A. Darcos"]There has been quite a bit of buzz about the possibility of President Trump issuing himself a pardon over the issues being investigated or perhaps just everything, The pardon authority comes from " Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution which states that the President "shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment ..." according to Wikipedia, which is in line with how I remember it. Now, some are arguing the President can't pardon himself, using as a ground that a judge can't give one side something and not give the other a hearing. This, I think, is a misreading of the law. That purpose is to ensure manifest fairness to both sides. But the pardon power has nothing to do with fairness, but with the President's explicit powers, allowing him to correct potential errors, overreactions, or miscarriages of justice. The pardon power is a form of forgiveness, and forgiveness isn't intended to be fair to everyone. I am therefore persuaded that President Trump does have the power to pardon himself. Of course, the one saving grace would mean it would guarantee his impeachment. [/quote]