If Rove is indicted can Bush* just pardon him before he even goes to trial

[Toots]

Just say "we all know he didn't mean any harm and he is needed in the war on terror so he is officially pardoned" There is nothing anyone could do about it as it is in the Constitution as a right of the President. Didn't Carter just pardon all draft dodgers and allow them to come home without fear of prosecution? I expect if Rove is indicted he will receive a hasty Pardon...We will never see Rove go to Prison...

[Waya]

1. Don't think so....

I think they have to be convicted before they can be pardoned....but not sure..

[MADem]

16. Not true--two words--CASPAR WEINBERGER

Poppy pardoned him for everything and anything after he was indicted. He threatened to tell all if he wasn't given a full pass....

[AlCzervik]

2. he has to be convicted 1st and then he can be pardoned.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Poppy Bush pardoned Cap Weinberger

& a buncha other people before they were tried.

I was actually gonna post something like what the OP did. I predict that Rove will be pardoned. I think he actually already knows t. He's gonna hang tough & not finger anybody above him (i.e. Shrub) & will walk with a pardon as his reward.

But then I also think the 2006 mid-terms will be stolen--&even if the Dems by some miracle win one or both houses, there will be no impeachment. Only 2 years left, it's more "statesmanlike" & less disruptive to sit back & watch the Bushies destroy the world for a few more years.

[AlCzervik]

14. i just found this on wiki

A presidential pardon may be granted at any time after commission of the offense; the pardoned person need not have been convicted or even formally charged with a crime. In the overwhelming majority of cases, however, the Pardon Attorney will only consider petitions from persons who have completed their sentences and, in addition, have demonstrated their ability to lead a responsible and productive life for a significant period after conviction or release from confinement. Federal courts have held that the President may make a pardon or reprieve conditional, and that a person who is granted such a pardon or reprieve cannot refuse it, but must accept and comply with its conditions.
The pardon power of the President extends only to offenses cognizable under Federal law. However, the governors of most states have the power to grant pardons or reprieves for offenses under state criminal law. In other states, that power is committed to an appointed agency or board, or to a board and the governor in some hybrid arrangement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardon

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

27. So he can pardon treason?

Sounds like treason in and of itself to me... :shrug:

[tabasco]

36. That is an excellent point, but Bush will claim

there is good treason and bad treason. :mad:

[karlrschneider]

28. Nope. Pre-emptive pardons are allowed.

Uh, see other posts, just noticed them.

[rpannier]

3. Isn't that what Ford did for Nixon?

[Frustratedlady]

4. As much as he is despised,

would * dare? I would think there would be such an uproar if he did pardon Rove, that it would be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I know I would be livid.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. What uproar? Remember when "dozens" of war protestors

took to the streets in 2002 & 2003? If the media don't cover the uproar, there is no uproar.

[MADem]

17. He wouldn't do it before NOV 06

So Rove will have to stall, try to stay out of jail on appeal, IF they could get to trial that fast, which is not guaranteed by any means. Look how long it took to get Ken Lay to court???

If he could stall it till after NOV 08, that would be better still from his point of view.

[H2O Man]

5. A president can

pardon people at any time. He could pardon a person before they are convicted, and he can pardon people before they are actually even charged.

Bush cannot afford to pardon people in this case. It's not a serious issue at this time.

[Kingofalldems]

6. Bush I pardoned someone before trial

Just before he left office. One of the Iran Contra people. Can't think----I just remembered. It was Caspar Weinberger.

[badgerpup]

8. If Bush is (hopefully) being impeached himself

by the time Rove's trial comes to an end, does he still have the power to grant pardons?
Seeing as how he himself is in hot water...
I know, innocent until proved guilty :puke: but can a pardon by somebody who is later proved guilty be retroactively rescinded?

Man, what a legal mess these guys are going to leave for us!
Bastards.

[BadgerKid]

21. Prez until impeached, I think

IANAL but according to the Const., the prez is not removed from office until he's been convicted by the Senate. So, my answer would be no.

Hey! great username :hi:

[Jack Rabbit]

24. The President can pardon any federal offense except impeachments

Bush's last act in office might very well be pardoning himself. Not even Nixon was that arrogant.

Please note that Nixon was never indicted for any crime. President Ford pardoned him first. The President has that power.

[Minnesota Libra]

9. Sure and I hope Bush does exactly that, neocons/fundies would be..........

.....history.:applause: America is beginning to wake up so I hope Bush does bail his friends out - by pardoning everyone of them.:rofl:

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Unfortunately this will be preceded & followed by Puggies

winning landslide victories in 2006 & 2008.

Read Palast.

[Minnesota Libra]

34. I want the WH Idiot to pardon everyone as soon as a conviction............

....comes down.:bounce: That way it will be just one more thing on the pile for voters to base their votes on.:patriot:

[Jackpine Radical]

35. The two major principles of Puggiethink:

1) Debts don't matter.
2) Votes don't matter.

[spanone]

10. It would be total political suicide, even Bush* isn't that stupid.

[AlCzervik]

15. it would be but if he did after nov. it wouldn't matter to the gop imo.

[Ecumenist]

26. Bush has set new lows for stupidity

and I have to respectfully disagree and say that you're giving him too much credit. This idiot doesn't take political damage into consideration when he makes these moves. The last 5.5-6 years is proof of that.....

[wrate]

33. You give * too much credit. n/t

[Waya]

12. Guidelines....

....As the foregoing indicates, a person who has not yet been convicted or has not fully served the sentence for the federal crime for which pardon is sought is ineligible for pardon under the regulations that guide the Department of Justice's processing of pardon requests. However, these rules do not bind the President. The President retains the authority under the Constitution to consider a pardon request from an individual who is ineligible to apply under the regulations or who has not applied at all, and to grant clemency to such a person if he believes such action to be appropriate....


http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/testimony/adams1.htm

[berni_mccoy]

18. A President Can Pardon ANYONE ANYTIME who commits a federal crime

Past, present or even future.

Similar examples to Rove:
Ford pardoned Nixon before any indictment came. Lincoln blanket pardoned any confederate soldiers of treason.

There IS a crime Bush can not pardon anyone for: a STATE or LOCAL Crime. So, if Bush pardon's Rove for the Federal Crimes of Obstruction and Perjury, I'm sure the state he committed them in (or D.C.) could press charges as well (assuming Obstruction and Perjury are crimes in the state he committed them in).

[highnooner]

19. Apparently, he has already pardoned himself

Is that legal?

[berni_mccoy]

20. Bush can't pardon himself from an Impeachment

That's explicitly stated in the Constitution.

[Rex]

22. No, if Bush is implicated for committing high crimes & misdemeanors

then his goose is cooked. So is Cheneys. I think it is way to early to say. 3.5 hours is a hell of a long time to be grilled by someone like Fitz.

[Jack Rabbit]

23. Yes

He can pardon him now, as a matter of fact.

[Lefty48197]

25. I wouldn't compare Rove to the Vietnam War objectors

.

[Kansas Wyatt]

29. Sure, with his poll numbers

Surely Bush must think that he has some 'political capital' left.:rofl:

Heck, he'll be barricaded in some spider hole someday, thinking that all his supporters (majority in his mind) will rescue their Great Decider from all the evildoer liberals in their last throes.

Bush will have to pardon and expunge Rove, so he will still be able to at least get to a dysfunctional level (functional not possible anymore). Without Rove, little pissy pants would just crawl inside of a Jack Daniels bottle, and declare himself Great Decider King. No wait, he's already done that. Okay, the USA is closing down for awhile, cause we are so screwed, and we need to find some real leaders to put this bankrupt mess back together.

[Roland99]

30. KY Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) pardoned SEVERAL people before any trial

took place. Hell, he pardoned any FUTURE crimes, too!

[NI4NI]

31. I'd indict Rove the minute that the Chimp left office

provided that no statute of limitation expires before then.

[DearAbby]

32. Rove is * right hand man...

And Rove knows where the bodies are buried sort to speak ;)


I dont know how a pardon would go over, if * himself is implicated in the crime. I am not a lawyer, I don't even play one on TeeVee.