I think Esquire said it best:D:
Can he be compelled to tell the truth?
Sorry, double post. Mods, could you please remove it, thx.
It was so nice, I read it twice.
Hilarious, but I just have to point out – there are rats in prison.
Perfect time to make an example of someone for lying to Congress.
At the time, I thought Cop Rock was a terrible idea. I now think it was just too far ahead of its time. Also, to stay on topic; Eat shit, Roger!
And after all, you know, he hardly knew the guy.
I have yet to be convinced that we have seen the last of these fuckers. We really do need to grow a spine and start using the word “treason” more often.
I’m not around Trump supporters very often but when I am and they talk about it being a witch hunt I say, “It must be a witch hunt because they sure caught a lot of witches.”
On a day when I badly need to hear something resembling a bright spot of good news, this will do.
I think about this a lot. Trump pardons someone, which means he’s compelled to testify. But he could testify and just lie his ass off. Then he’s in jeopardy again for lying under oath. Could he get pardoned yet again for that?
I don’t know the answer to that question. But anyone considering lying to cover Trump’s ass must now be calculating that with an election in November, the window of opportunity for pardoning is getting smaller and smaller with each passing day.
The advantage to Trump in pardoning all those who lied for him is as a signal to other potential witnesses that he has their back. Failing that, they might decided they have to tell the truth.
It was asked above about the timing of pardons. I guess this could be its own thread, but don’t presidents pardon on the last day of their terms to avoid political consequences? Could a seemingly improper pardon be an article of impeachment?
Why would the pardon change anything on that front? To the extent that these matters gave him a legitimate reason to use his Fifth Amendment rights, didn’t that end today, or at least won’t it in February when he’s sentenced?
I wonder if Stone will be going to a place with lax-enough rules and security where he’ll still be able to wear his costumes that he likes to dress up in so so much? I think taking that ability away from him would be what really breaks the man.
Yes. The President’s pardon power for federal offenses is almost unlimited: Federal pardons in the United States - Wikipedia.
Some Presidents have issued lots of pardons towards the end of the terms, most notoriously Bill Clinton in early 2001, but there’s no legal reason it has to be done then. No President has ever been impeached for “a seemingly improper pardon,” but we’re in uncharted political waters in many ways, and these days I would never say never.
Agree with Hari. Communicating: "with pardons, I got your back " doesn’t need to come from a place of kindness, it can also come from strict self-interest. It will make people less nervous about working with him now, even if it doesn’t completely extinguish the legal risks of associating with him. It’s a crooked use of power for self-interest, just that should appeal to Trump.
Someone can also explain to me how being pardoned means they’re easier to compel to testify. Maybe I just don’t know that point of law.