Thanks for posting. AI reminded me of the two instances that a preemptive pardon was used. First, Gerald Ford of Richard Nixon Second, Jiommy Carter of VietNam draft dodgers.
I still question if a preemptive pardon is within the power of POTUS under Article II, Section 2.
Article II, Section 2, Clause 1:
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
Gwjack
Goes back to the civil war