Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a run for the presidency in 2024. If he were to win, he would once again hold the power to pardon himself and others. This has raised questions about the legality and ethics of self-pardons.
The Constitution does not explicitly address whether a president can pardon himself. However, many legal scholars argue that a president cannot self-pardon because it would violate the principle of equal protection under the law.
“No one is above the law, not even the president,” said Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor at Harvard University. “To allow a president to pardon himself would be to create a dangerous precedent that could undermine the rule of law.”
Those who argue that a president can self-pardon point to the broad pardon power granted to the president by Article II of the Constitution. They contend that this power is unrestricted and that it allows the president to pardon anyone, including himself.
However, those who argue that a president cannot self-pardon point to the principle of equal protection under the law. They argue that a president who pardons himself is essentially placing himself above the law and denying others the equal protection that is guaranteed by the Constitution.
If Trump were to pardon himself, it would likely trigger a legal challenge. It is unclear how the courts would rule on such a challenge, but it is possible that they would find self-pardons to be unconstitutional.
Even if Trump were to successfully pardon himself, it would not prevent him from being impeached by Congress. Impeachment is a political process, and it does not require a criminal conviction.
Whether or not a president can pardon himself is a complex legal question. There are strong arguments to be made on both sides of the issue. Ultimately, it is up to the courts to decide whether or not self-pardons are constitutional.
If Trump were to pardon himself, it would likely have significant consequences. It would trigger a legal challenge and could lead to his impeachment by Congress. It would also create a dangerous precedent that could undermine the rule of law.
