Will Obama grant Clinton a blank pardon if Trump wins?

[AmbulanceDriver]

I think it would be the absolute nail in Clinton's political career (although after tonight, it looks like they need to go ahead and dig the grave for her political future now) but do you think she'll get Obama to sign a blank pardon for all the crap that's been coming out in WikiLeaks, etc?

Admittedly, I'd be surprised if Trump cleans out Justice/FBI/etc. to the point that a prosecution would be likely, but that's gotta weigh heavy on Clinton right about now.

[AmbulanceDriver]

I also think that a blank pardon would be seen as a (further) stain on Obama's "legacy".....   So I'm thinking no.....  but it'll be interesting

[Triphammer]

It would tickle me if he re-opened the investigation into O's place of birth. The garbage we had shoved down our throats didn't prove anything. If he could be proven an illegitimate president, Obamacare is GONE
 Clinton's presidential pardon- GONE; Iran nuke deal- GONE
I know- pipe dreams but it's late  & I'm tired this is the closing moments of a long rollercoaster ride.

[RoadKingLarry]

It would tickle me if he re-opened the investigation into O's place of birth. The garbage we had shoved down our throats didn't prove anything. If he could be proven an illegitimate president, Obamacare is GONE
 Clinton's presidential pardon- GONE; Iran nuke deal- GONE
I know- pipe dreams but it's late  & I'm tired this is the closing moments of a long rollercoaster ride.

While the evil RKL would love to see it proven the BHO wasn't actually eligible to be president* I actually think it would be damaging to the country as a whole. On the other hand, I would love to see the investigation of the Clinton Foundation seriously pushed.

I'd still.rather see the sealed college records that show him as a foreign student.

[De Selby]

Yes

[Monkeyleg]

I want Hillary and Bill prosecuted!

[RoadKingLarry]

I want Hillary and Bill prosecuted!

Don't forget Chelsea.

[MechAg94]

I can see Obama pardoning Clinton for enough to protect himself from getting swept up along with her.  I don't see him going beyond that.  Even the FBI hasn't stopped investigating the Clinton Foundation even if they claim to have found nothing on the emails.

[roo_ster]

Don't forget Chelsea.

I think she would look beautiful in jumpsuit orange.

[KD5NRH]

I can see Obama pardoning Clinton for enough to protect himself from getting swept up along with her.  I don't see him going beyond that.

He could easily word it just right so that it sounds like a full pardon, but leaves a few creative loopholes for prosecution.  After all, she ain't exactly young, so anything over 15-20 years in prison will be all the same.

[makattak]

I think Obama hates the Clintons. (And vice-versa). I'm betting no on the pardon.

[just Warren]

What if the point of the trump campaign was to make sure that someone won who wouldn't prosecute the Clintons?

There's a chance that Trump is in cahoots with the Clintons and ran just to knock out the other Rs, most of whom would gladly send Hillary and others to jail.

Remember Trump is a left-of-center urban Democrat who wrapped himself in Republican populism to run and win. He's been lying from the outset. So if he has been lying and we don't know what is really driving him, why couldn't he be an op of theirs? His daughter is best friends with their daughter, the families have hung around with each other for years. He's an authoritarian/fascist, she's a fascist-authoritarian. They mesh perfectly.

/tinfoil

BHO may pardon HRC and WJC and maybe Chelsea and a few others but Obama won't pardon everybody. If Trump is on the up-and-up that still leaves a lot of people to prosecute.

I'd hope he goes after everybody else regardless of how low on the totem pole they are, even that maid who printed out the e-mails. Show the world how the Clintons and their top team skated and left all their underlings to swing. That would be a good object lesson.

[Mannlicher]

barack hussein can't pardon hillary for crimes she has not been charged with.  Maybe that is why Comey held off?  After barack leaves office, I am sure a Trump appointed FBI Director and a Trump appointed Attorney General, may be able to find just a smidge of intent to commit criminal acts by hillary and bill.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

barack hussein can't pardon hillary for crimes she has not been charged with.  Maybe that is why Comey held off?  After barack leaves office, I am sure a Trump appointed FBI Director and a Trump appointed Attorney General, may be able to find just a smidge of intent to commit criminal acts by hillary and bill.

Nixon was never charged
But he got his pardon


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Scout26]

barack hussein can't pardon hillary for crimes she has not been charged with.  Maybe that is why Comey held off?  After barack leaves office, I am sure a Trump appointed FBI Director and a Trump appointed Attorney General, may be able to find just a smidge of intent to commit criminal acts by hillary and bill.

IIRC, the FBI Director is appointed for a ten year term (Unless he resigns, dies or removed from office)  Trump may not be able to appoint a new director.  (Comey's been FBI director less than 4 years).

However, he can appoint a new AG and Deputy AG's and US Attorney's.  So the new ones may be willing to take Hillary to trial.


And yes, Obama can pardon Hillary "for any and all crimes she may or may not have committed."   But see Burdick vs US.  

Which may actually be the best way out.  Hillary gets to walk, but badly and completely stained and tarnished with the specter of illegality.  Yet, the country avoids the entire spectacle of what will be deemed a "political trial", and her being made into a martyr and scapegoat.  Which will do nothing but fire up the Democrat base.

[Unisaw]

I think Obama will pardon Hillary in return for her silence about his own role in illegal behavior.  I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't also pardon Valerie Jarrett for unspecified actions. I think history will ultimately reveal that she was behind many of the shady deals and outright lies that have characterized O's administration.

[HeroHog]

(because of a delay in posting this, without a quote, its meaning was lost... stand by while I regroup...) 

[HeroHog]

I think she would look beautiful in jumpsuit orange.

I'm a pine or dirt man myself. 

[Fitz]

honestly, and it pains me to say this


TRUMP pardoning Clinton would be a smart move


It's an awful thought...

but. If he wanted to prove he was serious about the stuff he said in his speech about healing... he'd have tremendous "high ground" from a political standpoint if he did that.

[Monkeyleg]

honestly, and it pains me to say this


TRUMP pardoning Clinton would be a smart move


It's an awful thought...

but. If he wanted to prove he was serious about the stuff he said in his speech about healing... he'd have tremendous "high ground" from a political standpoint if he did that.

The idea sickens me, too, but this is just like 1974, when Ford pardoned Nixon. If Trump has Hillary prosecuted, it will tear the country apart.

It might be a better idea to let her continue with her Foundation scam, then go after Bill and Hillary on the crimes they commit next year.

[roo_ster]

There aint no putting humpty back together again.  Bho used the power of govt illegitamately to harass opponents.  Trump should use the legit powers of govt to crush the wildly felonious and corrupt.

[De Selby]

What he should do is appoint a special prosecutor to have the matter handled independently.

[zxcvbob]

There aint no putting humpty back together again.  Bho used the power of govt illegitamately to harass opponents.  Trump should use the legit powers of govt to crush the wildly felonious and corrupt.

Trump could pardon her for violating the Espionage Act with her email server.  It would seem magnanimous.  (accepting the pardon would imply guilt, and be the end of her political career)  Also revoke any clearances she has, just in case. 

The foundation is a separate matter; let that investigation go where it may.

[MechAg94]

honestly, and it pains me to say this


TRUMP pardoning Clinton would be a smart move


It's an awful thought...

but. If he wanted to prove he was serious about the stuff he said in his speech about healing... he'd have tremendous "high ground" from a political standpoint if he did that.

I guess I would start by asking who is going to respect Trump for pardoning Clinton?  His supporters?  The media?  The establishment?  Democrats?

IMO, no not a smart move.  Democrats will still hate Trump and Republicans.  It will gain nothing with the opposition and piss off a great many of his supporters.  He didn't get where he was by playing nice with those who oppose him.  I don't think it would be smart to change hit spots now.  I hate to say it, but that really sounds like something W. Bush would do.  He made nice gestures to Democrats a lot.  He never got anything in return and just looked weak while the same Democrats talked trash about him in the media.  

No pardon whatsoever.  Prosecute her and her family and associates.  Commuting their sentence could be done afterward, but I wouldn't advise it myself.  

[BlueStarLizzard]

I think Trump should go after Hilary. If nothing else, a lot of people have lost real faith in the justice system over this whole thing. Seeing rich, connected woman in high politics get away with stuff that has landed other people in jail faster than you can say "classified" does not sit well. If Trump wants to keep the support of the people who voted for him, he's got to do it.

As far as Obama's birth crap. *shrug* It's over, he's done. Stick a fork in him. If they bring it up, I'm going to be looking for what the news *isn't* reporting while they cover that debacle.