Can President Obama pardon Hillary Clinton without implicating himself?

2016-11-10T15:34:53-05:00

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2016 3:43 PM

2016-11-10T15:43:14-05:00

She hasn't been formally convicted of anything, so there is nothing to pardon. BUT, if she was tried, no it wouldn't. It just wouldn't look good

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 10 at 2016 3:46 PM

2016-11-10T15:46:19-05:00

Sure, why not? Furthermore, he can legally pardon himself. I would bet Trump would do it for him, if charges were filed.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2016 3:52 PM

2016-11-10T15:52:04-05:00

You can bet that the 90 Minute meeting, that was only supposed to be 20,had some thing to do about this, like a deal.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Nov 10 at 2016 4:42 PM

2016-11-10T16:42:43-05:00

Here is what a Presidential Pardon of a President looks like (specific section quoted):

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 20, 1969 through August 9, 1974."

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Proclamation_4311

The President need not name any act at all. He can merely say "for the good of the Nation" or nothing at all.

Proclamation 4311 - Wikisource, the free online library

Richard Nixon became the thirty-seventh President of the United States on January 20, 1969 and was reelected in 1972 for a second term by the electors of forty-nine of the fifty states. His term in office continued until his resignation on August 9, 1974.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 10 at 2016 6:07 PM

2016-11-10T18:07:23-05:00

this is going to a touchy situation

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Nov 10 at 2016 9:52 PM

2016-11-10T21:52:36-05:00

If Trump decided to go after her like he said he would, it would make him look rather silly. Maybe worse than the head of the FBI. If his AG pick is Growdy, you're giving him more time and money to waste on a case that has been beaten down more than Guiliani's common sense. Obama could very well give her a get out of jail card, but she would have a ton of evidence showing how she was investigated over two years and was not found guilty of anything, just negligent in her duties. She would easily win that one using Growdy's own evidence against him. No need for a pardon unless he thinks there's more to Weiner than meets the eye and Trumps going after it.

Response by CPT Alexander Grant made Nov 11 at 2016 2:18 AM

2016-11-11T02:18:13-05:00

Serious question, do many people believe that Trump will really want to go after Hillary? I feel like elitism would prevent that.

Response by SSG Tom Pike made Nov 11 at 2016 8:50 AM

2016-11-11T08:50:06-05:00

That might be the best way out of this for the entire country. Trump having his justice department prosecuting Hillary will be a nightmare that further divides the country. The investigation and court cases would drag on for the entire 4 years of Trump's presidency just inflaming people the entire time. If Obama pardons Hillary, he slips off into retirement, writes his memoirs and gives speeches for $200,000 each, maybe go back to teaching at law school. Trump won't go after Obama, because he knows in 4 years someone will be coming after him. It's just a bad precedent to start.

The blow hard right wingers will whine for a few minutes on TV about how they don't get to prosecute her, 15 minutes later the short attention span of the American public will shift to something else and the country will move on.