Fair point. I'd expect a Biden administration to encourage the AGs in those states (likely all Democratic) to go easy in their prosecution.MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:30 amPerhaps a small point, but Biden can't pardon Trump from the state charges.
And those are what are most likely to sink Trump, though there could be federal ones too. I doubt the next Administration will pursue the obstruction of justice charges that Mueller detailed, or other violations that could be seen as political matters, but the money stuff is likely to be pursued at the state level. Bank fraud, insurance fraud, even tax fraud at state level. Likely to see civil cases as well.
I don't think the Democrats will be thirsty for blood (or likely to impeach Biden) if they win the White House, so I think Biden would strongly consider pardoning Trump to avoid civil unrest. The Democrats have just witnessed the power of a party united behind a president, and I doubt they will squander the chance to repeat that scenario to their advantage.njbill wrote: ↑Sat Oct 31, 2020 1:27 amBiden would never pardon Trump in a million years. Nor should he. He would get impeached by the Democratic House.
Ford did it. I thought he was wrong at the time and still do.
Biden has already said that he will leave it to his justice department as to whether to prosecute Trump.
Trump would have no leverage to ask for a pardon. If he participated in a violent revolution or anything of the sort, he would be arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and jailed.
One often talked about scenario is that Trump would resign on, say, January 19. Pence would then pardon him. I think Pence would only do that if he has no future aspirations to run for president.
Also, some think Trump will pardon himself. He might, but that would never be upheld by the courts.
Trump's leverage is his agreement to actively dissuade his followers from participating in a revolt; over the last 4 years, he's put on a master class on how to step up to, but not over, the line of inciting all kinds of lawless behavior without actually saying it (e.g. "Liberate Michigan").
I guess I've just seen far more "impossible" disputes resolved in the back room than in the court room. But then, I'm a lunch lawyer, not a real lawyer/litigator.