Question about pardons

[Orrex]

Do Presidential Pardons have to be made public at the time that they're awarded? And do they have to be effective immediately, or can they be written with an automatic target date?

Could Bush issue pardons today for Rove, Libby, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, himself, et al and have them take effect in January 2009? Could he invoke Executive Privilege and keep them secret in perpetuity?


Not that this Dem. Congress will charge any of them with anything anyway, but in theory...

[valerief]

1. I think all the Chimperor has to do is click his heels three times and

say, "Nukyoolar," for a pardon to be effective. I mean, we've officially gone down the rabbit hole where up is down.

[Peregrine]

2. Constitutionally there are no limits on the president's pardon authority

There is no reason to keep any secret. They cannot be denied or overturned.

[sharesunited]

3. One reason to keep them secret: Preventing backlash from hurting McCain.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. What would be the advantage of issuing secret ones now compared to waiting until January?

:shrug:

[Orrex]

4. Has it ever been determined whether a President can preemptively pardon him or herself?

I know that there was some tut-tutting about it back when Clinton was in office, but I haven't heard much about it this time around, since the press of course won't dare to suggest that Bush has done anything that might need a pardon, of course.