“if Obama hints at a pardon, the Army should upgrade the charges to treason. No presidential pardon allowed for that.”
Are you sure? Source?
You are correct; I was mistaken. Presidential pardon power extends to all offenses except in cases of impeachment. Not sure where I translated cases of impeachment to treason, but I clearly misremembered my past readings of Article II.
Well you could dig it out here:http://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/articles/2/essays/89/pardon-power
Pardons for treason have been givien before,
Andrew Johnson
Proclamation 179—Granting Full Pardon and Amnesty for the Offense of Treason Against the United States During the Late Civil War
December 25, 1868