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> but in any case, the President cannot preemptively pardon people for future offenses for which they may or may not be convicted. Well, in Assange's case, tho
by piaste 10y ago
> but in any case, the President cannot preemptively pardon people for future offenses for which they may or may not be convicted.
Well, in Assange's case, those would be past offences for which they may or may not be convicted. And I think that would be the same situation as Nixon when Ford pardoned him - he'd already done the deed, but hadn't been convicted yet.
edit: Though, since we're speculating already - does it even make sense for an American president to pardon an Australian citizen?
- foldr 10y agoOk, you are correct that the US President can in fact pardon people preemptively (though it is very rare). But no such power is available to anyone within the Swedish government or judiciary, so far as I am aware, and to pardon Assange preemptively would in any case violate Sweden's treaty obligations.