# Who will Trump pardon after election day 2020? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 22, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609 "2020-10-22T17:26:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/1 "2020-10-22T17:26:13Z")
_Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/1))_ The title is the question. There will be a prize that I will make up later. The earliest respondent with the most correct answers (as judged by me) wins. There is some subjectivity in the categories but I’ll use my fairest and best judgment. Administration staffers include anyone who worked in the administration in any capacity but it doesn’t include random hangers-on like Giuliani or Chris Christie. There is some subjectivity here about, for instance, who is “closely associated” with Trump or whether a person has meaningful ties I will be the sole judge of who fits into what categories. The poll closes on election night but the winner won’t be picked until some new president is inaugurated, so, if he is reelected, it could take a while to determine the winner. In any event, I won’t declare a winner until at least a few weeks after inauguration day so I can read press coverage about the pardoned people. Please feel free to discuss the particular people you think he will and won’t pardon. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/2 "2020-10-22T20:03:13Z")
He will pardon Putin, invite him to the Pentagon war room and give him a big wet kiss. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/3 "2020-10-22T21:22:45Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > He will pardon Putin And conversely. ETA: His paramour Li’l Kim too. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/4 "2020-10-23T09:37:38Z")
Setting aside the whole “can you pre-emptively pardon people who aren’t yet facing indictments” question, he will pardon (as applicable): - his children (including Jared); - anyone he thinks he can gain something from by doing so (including gaining their future silence in any investigations into him); and - anyone someone **else** who is in a position to do him a favor has asked him to pardon. It’s all purely transactional - he will issue pardons solely based on what benefits him. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/5 "2020-10-23T12:49:49Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Setting aside the whole “can you pre-emptively pardon people who aren’t yet facing indictments” question I think we’ve all decided to call **nix on** that question. My prediction is he’ll pardon himself and to hell with any of the others who “failed” him. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/6 "2020-10-24T03:53:25Z")
He won’t pardon Putin because the only place in the world bankrupt trump can go while fleeing indictments is to Mother Russia. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/7 "2020-10-24T04:01:37Z")
There will be an endless shower of pardons - family, friends, known associates, unknown associates, members of his administration, members of the Trump Org and even one for Pence. Then he resigns and Pence pardons him. ETA - this all presumes DJT _loses._ If he wins, there will be no pardons for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/8 "2020-11-04T17:36:17Z")
Thanks everyone for participating! The poll is now closed since, in theory, post-election pardons could start coming any day. I eyeballed the polling results and it looks like nearly everyone had different thoughts on exactly who was going to get pardons. I’m looking forward to the results, for what it’s worth, I’m almost a maximalist. He will pardon nearly everyone on the list, including himself. He isn’t going to quit the presidency in shame to get a pardon from Pence. As far as he’s concerned, he can pardon himself if he wants to because who is going to stop him? But he will pardon lots of other people and yes, he will justify it by saying that the deep state and the Dems are going to target him and them once they seize power through the fraudulent election. Of course, if he wins, we won’t know the results for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/9 "2020-11-06T19:40:04Z")
He will pardon many people. But nobody seems to know if he can pardon himself. He is pretty much a lock to try that. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/10 "2020-11-06T21:00:04Z")
Yeah, this is a “Might as well give it a shot” kind of play. It’s a dead certainty Biden won’t pardon him, and even if it fails, that’s no different than not even trying a self-pardon. But if it is allowed to stand, then the self-pardon is pure profit, as far as Trump is concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/11 "2020-11-07T01:29:24Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > But nobody seems to know if he can pardon himself. IANAL, but unfortunately I do not see why he can’t pardon himself. There have been a few cases where a state governor has pardoned himself for state level crimes, and a few mayors that have pardoned themselves for violations of city ordinances. I understand it’s rare, only a handful of examples exist, but legal. And I don’t know of any reason it wouldn’t extend to the presidential powers of pardon. There are, however, numerous allegations of sexual assault that can be prosecuted at a state level. The POTUS can only pardon Federal crimes. So he can’t get himself out of those. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/12 "2020-11-27T16:11:27Z")
The first post-election pardon is in: [Michael Flynn](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/us/politics/michael-flynn-pardon.html), the former National Security Advisor and thus, an administration staffer. The New York Times (paywall) is also speculating that there will be a [“wave” of pardons](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/us/politics/trump-pardons.html?action=click&block=associated_collection_recirc&impression_id=12d78a00-30c8-11eb-9747-db0c7c28d3c4&index=1&pgtype=Article®ion=footer) in the coming weeks. I’ll be looking out for pardons in the following categories from the polls: - Trump - Ivanka Trump - Jared Kushner - Administration staffers - Known close associates (other than those listed above) - Unknown associates - Other family Each category is worth one point. The winner is naturally the respondent with the most points. Those who picked “no one” are out of the running with busted brackets. Two responders picked “Some people, but no one with any meaningful ties to his family, his administration, his campaign, or his own wrongdoing.” This was meant to be a mutually exclusive category that precluded any other choices but both people who made this choice also picked other categories. As contest judge, i will dock those respondents one point but allow their other choices to stand. Prize information to come soon. Good luck everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/13 "2020-12-01T16:51:29Z")
Rudy G looking for a pardon I wonder what for > **[Presidential Transition Highlights: Justice Dept. Has No Evidence of Fraud...](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/01/us/joe-biden-trump#giuliani-is-said-to-have-discussed-a-possible-pardon-with-trump)** > > President Trump is said to have discussed pre-emptive pardons for his eldest three children and for Rudolph W. Giuliani, his lawyer. A Republican official in Georgia urged Mr. Trump to “stop inspiring people to commit potential acts of violence.” ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/14 "2020-12-01T17:23:45Z")
Hannity has gone on record to say Trump should pardon himself with the excuse we predicted: stop the witch-hunt. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/15 "2020-12-02T09:30:44Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Rudy G looking for a pardon I wonder what for “I’m not guilty of anything, but if you just _happen_ to be handing out pardons it’d be neat to have one.” ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/16 "2020-12-02T14:45:02Z")
Trump is reportedly considering pardons for Ivanka, Little Donnie Jr., the other one, and Kushner. > **[Trump Is Pondering Preemptively Pardoning His Kids Before Leaving Office](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/12/trump-pre-emptive-presidential-pardon-kids-don-jr-ivanka-eric-kushner-giuliani.html)** > > Trump is set to test the legal extent of the president’s pardon power. > **[Trump Has Discussed With Advisers Pardons for His 3 Eldest Children and...](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/us/politics/rudy-giuliani-pardon.html)** > > Rudolph W. Giuliani, who is promoting baseless claims of widespread election fraud, talked about a pardon with President Trump as recently as last week. Notably there is no discussion of a possible pardon for Tiffany or Barron. Does that mean he just doesn’t care whether they are targeted by the Biden administration or there is something in his mind that is different about the older kids? Hmmm, could it be that he knows the older kids are guilty of plenty of federal crimes for which, you know, they might be prosecuted if the country were run justly? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/17 "2020-12-02T15:06:24Z")
They’re going to install a self serve pardon vending machine outside the door to the Oval Office to ensure that everyone who can afford a pardon can get one. Yes he’ll pardon himself and his whole grifting family. Plus Ghouliani, Pompeo, probably more administration officials. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/18 "2020-12-02T15:18:03Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > Trump Is Pondering Preemptively Pardoning His Kids Before Leaving Office I can do better: _President ponders preemptively pardoning progeny preventing prosecution._ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/19 "2020-12-02T15:28:11Z")
Actually, it should be President ponders preemptively pardoning progeny preventing possible prosecution. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609/20 "2020-12-03T09:10:34Z")
Dan Rather tweets: > [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-trump-pardon-after-election-day-2020/923609.md?page=2)