2 ms·
Even if the president didn't control the Justice Department, couldn't he just pardon himself?
by mitthrowaway2 2y ago
Even if the president didn't control the Justice Department, couldn't he just pardon himself?
- mmooss 2y agoAgreed. That's a separate issue. Presumably if the US populace changed one (with a constitutional amendment), it might change the other.
- jauntywundrkind 2y agoYou can pardon for crimes, but my weak understanding is that violation of a court order is not something you can pardon or enable, by law at least.
- dragonwriter 2y agoThe executive branch can just not comply with civil contempt sanctions against its own members (not pay fines, and the Marshal’s Service can just not take people into custody for civil confinement), and either pardon or decline to prosecute (or both) for criminal contempt, and then the court order has no teeth.