That’s basically correct.
Basically the only way to test it would be to do something that would be considered obviously something that should be prosecuted, then after leaving office somehow get someone to prosecute him. I don’t think there is something he could do to set this in motion. Additionally, trying to make an obviously illegal order will likely mean tge courts don’t allow the order and no prosecution after the fact is necessary “proving” that the system works fine.
Can the person who makes the bribe get a pardon for said bribe as part of a package deal?
Per SCOTUS, yes. They were clear that the judiciary has zero review authority over the pardon process.
Press conference, July 8, 2024. Biden speaks:
My fellow Americans, part of my responsibility as your President is to help assure that all Americans have faith in our officials and candidates. To that end, I directed the IRS to make publicly available the last ten years of tax returns for:
Myself
My Vice President
Members of my cabinet
Donald Trump, candidate for President
Cabinet members and high-ranking official of the preceding administration
The Speaker of the House
The Senate Majority Leader
All Supreme Court Justices
[Add to list as you see fit]
As of 8:00 AM this morning, these tax returns have been made available at www.informationwantstobefree.gov. I hope all citizens download and review these documents.
Thank you. I will not be taking questions.
(Thanks to Si_Amigo for the idea.)
Fucking brilliant!
Agreed. Normally I’m hesitant to throw my full support behind a new idea, due to the law of unintended consequences, but on first blush this sounds like a fantastic idea.
P.S. This website was leaked to every major news agency in the world 12 hours ago, so all the data has been downloaded multiple times by now. So there’s no putting the genie back in the bottle.
The people who post that stuff in violation of the law are in for a world of shit.
Pardon me?
Not us, not us! The guys who make the returns available.
The people that repost that stuff will number in the tens of thousands, at the very least.
And will have the credible defense that the President of the United States authorized the release and distribution of the information.
Why would that be? I would think a handful of people would be needed, if that. I also think the higher the level, the deeper the shit. The grunt in IT who pulls the files is probably okay.
I’m sure the defense would include that. But if you’re the Director of the IRS, you’re quite aware this is illegal. And you don’t have super-duper immunity.
But you can be pardoned.
This has nothing to do with need, and everything to do with want.
That is very true. The scheme would need this.
Huh?…
Most of these schemes would require it for the government grunts who would do the actual work, but since that’s another Presidential power which is now effectively unlimited, it’s merely a formality. Find enough willing henchmen, and the sky is the limit.
I agree with that. All the fantasies require an executive branch that falls in line.