Trump says he may pardon the late boxer Muhammad Ali

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post



By Washington Post Staff

June 8 at 8:34 AM

Ali was convicted in 1967 for refusing to report for induction into the United States military during the Vietnam War. His local draft board rejected his application for conscientious objector classification.

Trump has used his clemency powers to pardon or commute sentences in a string of high-profile cases recently.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/06/08/trump-says-he-may-pardon-the-late-boxer-muhammad-ali/

[hlthe2b]

1. What a damned stunt, which will mean absolutely NOTHING.

[OneBlueDotBama]

2. For What?

Clay v. United States, 403 U.S. 698 (1971), was Muhammad Ali's[1] appeal of his conviction in 1967 for refusing to report for induction into the United States military forces during the Vietnam War. His local draft board had rejected his application for conscientious objector classification. In a unanimous 8-0 ruling (Thurgood Marshall recused himself due to his previous involvement in the case as a Justice department official), the United States Supreme Court reversed the conviction that had been upheld by the Fifth Circuit.

The Supreme Court found the government had failed to properly specify why Ali's application had been denied, thereby requiring the conviction to be overturned. A unanimous decision (8–0), "the court said the record shows that [Ali's] beliefs are founded on tenets of the Muslim religion as he understands them."[2][3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_v._United_States

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Trump the History Teacher Strikes Again

Or maybe Trump wants to convict him of something, so that he then gets to pardon him?

[Roy Rolling]

3. Ali Might Say...

"Keep your effin' pardon for yourself."
Ali went to jail for his beliefs, he was proud to be jailed for his political beliefs.
He wouldn't give Trump the satisfaction of using his good name for a cheap publicity stunt.

[BootinUp]

4. What makes him think Ali would want

A Trump pardon?

[groundloop]

19. It'd be interesting if his daughter would speak out on this.

[Thomas Hurt]

5. these pardons are becoming yet another thing, like his touch myself folders, to feed that yuuge ego

[greymattermom]

6. So does someone have to accept a pardon?

Can the President pardon dead folks, like maybe John Wilkes Booth?

[jberryhill]

11. Pretty sure one has to have a conviction for something

Ali's conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court.

There is, literally, nothing to pardon him for.

[exboyfil]

12. As pointed out above

He was never convicted of a crime. The Court ruled 8-0 and the conviction was overturned. It is actually insulting to offer a pardon to someone who was not convicted.

If I was his family I would be livid.

Way to go Trump.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Blending time periods, famous people, historical events together with oneself

confabulation

[Cha]

37. Pardon Ali for what?! What a stupid

Fraud.

[bucolic_frolic]

38. Understand -

to a World-Class Narcissist with early Alzheimer's Dementia, these are perfectly rational, reasonable, comfortable, and logical choices because of their mentally-blended, confabulated world.

I'm seeing it more clearly by the day. Just hope I didn't catch the disease!

[atreides1]

8. Who's next

Mary Surratt???

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

14. John Wilkes Booth

et al.

[gopiscrap]

26. no Ted Cruz's dad

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

30. Sirhan sirhan

isn't out of the question at this point. 'Bobby'...we hardly knew ye (too).

[BHDem53]

32. Aaron Burr.

He was never tried and all charges were eventually dropped.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

33. OMG yes...

That's funny. Nothing like clearing up that whole duel thing...it was a cloud over the country.

[jberryhill]

10. Ali's conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court 8-0

WTF?

There's nothing to pardon him for.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

29. Details, details. Don't take away Donnie Two Scoops' one unfettered joy in life.

He's like a boy with a new toy. He has always wanted to be a dictator, and having the unquestionable power to pardon anyone for any reason or no reason suits that fantasy. He's even become a Constitutional scholar, opinining -- without support, of course -- that he can pardon himself. I'd like to see the SCOTUS weigh in on that one.

How can a person say, "No man is above the law," and follow it with, "of course, I can pardon myself"? I'm becoming an alcoholic because of all the drinking I'm doing to simply to get through the day's latest outrages.

This.is.not.normal.

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. This sounds like the Mormon Church.

They baptize the dead.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

15. He thinks he's so slick

His times coming.

[ginnyinWI]

16. he likes pardons because it is is acting like a king

King Donnie, "I hereby pardon thee, oh lowly subject. (And now watch my media coverage--hee hee!)

[monmouth4]

17. He is trying to impress POC....nt

[duforsure]

18. He's pandering,

To get black voters , which was why he had Kim come into the White House, for the PR for their votes. Its not about justice at all, its abuse of power for political reasons.

[BlueIdaho]

20. Short of the Mormons

Repeatedly baptizing the late Anne Frank this is the most fucked up stunt I’ve ever seen...

[PubliusEnigma]

21. Just in: Trump pardons Jesus Christ.

[PunkinPi]

22. From atty for Muhammad Ali: "We appreciate President Trump's sentiment, but a pardon is unnecessary.

Link to tweet

Statement by atty for Muhammad Ali: “We appreciate President Trump’s sentiment, but a pardon is unnecessary.”

[marble falls]

23. Ali doesn't need cheetolini's pardon. Whateverer it was he did (resist the draft)...

the American people forgave Ali for decades ago.

Screw Trump and his "pardons".

Let alone this:



cheetolini's trying to pander.

[bucolic_frolic]

24. I think it's more about pardoning Bone Spurs

M. Ali won in court and all draft evaders were pardoned after the Vietnam War. He is in no need of a presidential pardon.

This is more about forgiving and aggrandizing himself

[Bayard]

25. Oh, that will mollify all those angry kneeling black athletes!

As if MA needed his pardon.

[treestar]

42. He is shallow enough to think that doing this

is enough to get the AA vote.

[unblock]

27. if he pardons ali, i hope his estate sues him for defamation of character.

[thucythucy]

28. Trump is also obviously unaware that Muhammad Ali

was Muslim.

Although you'd think the name would be a giveaway!

[gopiscrap]

31. this is one of the reasons why I strongly feel that business or military folks

should never be president. IN fact the careers I think prepare you for the presidency is bein g a teacher or an attorney

[treestar]

41. and community organizer

I hope the Dotard's incompetence will get people over the idea that someone strange can some in a clean up the swamp. It's not all evil and bad just because it has been organized. It's effective.

[gopiscrap]

43. I would accept that, also social worker

[Jedi Guy]

44. I agree about business, disagree about military.

The President is the CIC of the armed forces and has to make decisions about if, when, and where to send our troops. Having been in the service and understanding how the military works is a nice trait for a President.

And if the President has seen combat, I think that would make him/her consider long and hard before sending our people into the meat grinder.

Definitely agree that businesspeople are a bad fit for the office, though. Trying to run a government like a business isn't going to work, particularly if the businessperson in question has a string of bankruptcies and scams in his past.

But of course we'd never wind up with someone like that...

[Marcuse]

34. Kaepernick is the Ali of today.

Both were falsely branded as unpatriotic. The irony.

[Cattledog]

35. SCOTUS overturned Ali's conviction. Nothing to pardon!

[PoliticAverse]

36. Clay v. United_States, US Supreme Court (1971). Conviction overturned (8-0), no pardon needed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay_v._United_States

[Cold War Spook]

39. Trump is going to pardon Ali.

He will invite Ali to the WH. A cabinet job may be in the making.

[treestar]

40. Since he has died, who benefits?

His family might appreciate it. But the Dotard's motives are himself, himself, himself.