[katana]

May I assume a president cannot pardon himself? And that the statutes on bribery in public office are still in effect? And that the USSC decision exempting a president from prosecution for official actions doesn't apply to a crimes committed by a vice president?

It would be so delicious to see Joe doing a perp wander.

[arthurus]

It seems to be consensus all about that a president can, indeed, pardon himself. And even if he does not he should not prosecuted for any crimes prior to his leaving office. Doing that would import a third world precedent of each party imprisoning the previous president when the presidency changes hands. Let the Democrats set that precedent then bury them with it on the next round. There are plenty of crimes by Hunter and other Bidens that go back to Biden's first accession to the Congress way before the 2014 to 2024 general pardon. Put everyone related to him that can be proven criminal into prison and leave him out of it. God will remove him from the scene soon enough. If he were to be charged and tried he would not physically live to hear a verdict. He is declining fast, now and would likely be ruled incompetent to stand trial, anyway. The real test of the pardoning power will come if the politburo decides to use Biden to pardon all the head Democrats for past and future crimes. It probably would not pass muster at the USSC but it might.