The POTUS cannot pardon themselves. That would lead straight to a dictatorship, especially if the congress is loaded with leftist supporters.
To the contrary, the POTUS's power to grant federal pardons is a plenary power. The remedy to a rogue president as prescribed in the Constitution is impeachment and removal which are political, not criminal proceedings, and cannot be pardoned.
We know...but this will just throw them into frothing fits...he is living in living rent free in their heads.
I disagree. There is NO restriction on the power of the pardon in the Constitution. Should there be? I think so. I am of the opinion that a pardon should only be granted after a conviction.
Nothing in the Constitution prevents it save for impeachment.
They can pardon themselves. Is it politically wise? No way. Impeachment is a political battle.
By the way, in effect, Batak Obama pardoned himself. He had a compliant Attorney General who buried and blocked any investigation into the Obama admin (who IN FACT did worse than Nixon ever dreamed of).
Few realize this but the House actually drafted Articles of Impeachment against Richard Nixon. Want some fun reading, read the Articles of Impeachment in light of the Obama Administration and especially in light of what we know now.
http://watergate.info/impeachment/articles-of-impeachment
“The POTUS cannot pardon themselves. That would lead straight to a dictatorship, especially if the congress is loaded with leftist supporters.”
Seems to be a lot of controversy about this, and whereas I agree with your overall premise, I think the Constitution gets around this by explicitly stating that the power to pardon cannot be applied in cases of impeachment. Impeachment is the primary power granted in the Constitution to prevent a dictatorship by the Executive branch. The twenty-second amendment that limits a President to two terms also prevents dictatorship, but that wasn’t ratified until 1951.
I think the biggest mistake made by the Founders was not recognizing the allure of lifetime public office, the corruptibility of said office holders, and the advantages incumbency provides in terms of reelection. Term limits should have been strictly explicit in the Constitution.
A sitting President actually can pardon himself. HIS PARDON POWERS is unlimited. He can also NOT be indicted.
The only remedy for a rogue president laid out in the Constitution is Impeachment & Removal. Once he is removed and is no longer a sitting POTUS he is subject to potential criminal liability.
It is through the legal means of Impeachment & Removal through Conviction in the Senate that the President can be checked & punished.
That is incorrect. A pardon does not prevent impeachment and removal from office by Congress or at the ballot (or term limit).
Sorry but they can, what that would lead to is open for debate, but doesn't change the facts. Maybe you can point to the part of the Constitution that says he can't and I will apologize.