# Can the President pardon . . HIMSELF????

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-pardon-himself/38876>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 30, 2000, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-pardon-himself/38876 "2000-10-30T02:36:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![FloChi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@FloChi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloChi)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2000, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-pardon-himself/38876/21 "2000-11-01T17:18:23Z")

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Oops, sorry, I meant that the US had the first Unions, not socialist party. It’s too dark to think properly.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2000, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-pardon-himself/38876/22 "2000-11-01T18:06:01Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by k2dave \*  
> \*\*
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > He has to be convicted before he can be pardoned. To be convicted, first he has to be impeached. If he’s impeached, he can’t pardon himself.
> 
> He WAS impeached, which doesn’t ness. mean removed from office. \*\*

From Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution:

> [@](#):
>
> [The President] shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

So, if he is impeached, he can not pardon himself.

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2000, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-pardon-himself/38876/23 "2000-11-01T18:33:15Z")

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I believe the issue being discussed is whether or not Clinton can pardon himself for any criminal offenses he may have committed during his term of office, outside of the ones which were subject to impeachment.

The impeachment dealt with some side issues from the Whitewater investigation, not the original issues that brought about the appointment of the independent counsel.

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