Can the President Pardon Himself

[Steve418]

Is it possible for a president to pardon themselves? Also, can they pardon their family members?

[PayrolGuy]

His or Herself: Won't know until there is a SCOTUS ruling on the issue.

Family, there is nothing in Article II, Section 2 that mentions family.

[Taxing Matters]

Is it possible for a president to pardon themselves? Also, can they pardon their family members?

Whether the president may pardon himself/herself is an open issue. It certainly wasn't clear enough that Richard Nixon was willing to try it; instead, Gerald Ford pardoned him for any offenses he may have committed. But as broad as the pardon power is, the president very likely does have the power to pardon family members, friends, etc.

[PayrolGuy]

Family, there is nothing in Article II, Section 2 that mentions family.

Family, there is nothing in Article II, Section 2 that mentions excluding family.

That is really what I meant to write.

[pg1067]

a president

themselves

their family members

Oh FFS!

Section 2 of Article II of the federal Constitution states as follows:

"The President . . . shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." It does not say whether a president may pardon him or herself for an "Offence[] against the United States," and no president has sought to do so. My guess is that, if a president were to attempt it, the Supreme Court would rule that he or she may not do so, but it's nothing more than a hypothetical at this point. I'm sure if you google "may a president pardon himself," you'll get at least a few takes on the subject, and some of them might even be written by folks who know what they're talking about.

Also, can they pardon their family members?

Yes. Before he left office in January 2001, Bill Clinton pardoned pardoned his brother Roger.

[adjusterjack]

Bill Clinton pardoned pardoned his brother Roger.

I beg your pardon?

[jk]

But the powers to pardon apply only to federal crimes, not state.

[llworking]

But the powers to pardon apply only to federal crimes, not state.

Yep, absolutely.

[RJR]

Is it possible for a president to pardon themselves? Also, can they pardon their family members?

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the President's Pardon powers can not be questioned, absolute discretion.

[budwad]

Pardon himself for what crime against the United States? I suppose that being duly elected (Republican) president that the Dems can't get past is now a crime.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the President's Pardon powers can not be questioned, absolute discretion.

True, except for impeachment. The House can impeachment him (nothing more than an indictment) but the Senate will never convict him. It has never happened in our history.