southpaw: On page 8, Chief Justice Roberts decides that no prosecution of the president can be premised either on a use of the pardon power or on the firing of an executive branch official (like, say, the Special Counsel investigating the president).

On page 8, Chief Justice Roberts decides that no prosecution of the president can be premised either on a use of the pardon power or on the firing of an executive branch official (like, say, the Special Counsel investigating the president).

So the traditional White House Counsel worries about obstruction of justice are out the window.

why even bother having a WH counsel

It’s a ceremonial post now.

Eric Trump will need a job.

That’s one job that just got a lot easier.

Does a president even need a White House Counsel after this?

Bill Barr got his imperial presidency and the decline will speed up from here

Legally, impeach is all that's left, right?

Technically. The president can have those planning to impeach or convict him killed. Then pardon the killers. This passed constitutional muster before today’s decision. The president is constitutionally above the law.

So the President can legally pardon himself as an official act?

including the obstruction Mueller testified Trump *could have* been prosecuted for after leaving office.

So, if you have a client who's facing Federal charges of any kind and can afford a couple mil to bribe the President for a pardon, we can't officially recommend you do it. Just know that the bribe recipient in this case would be totally immune from prosecution. Academically.

I would never suggest something so crass as a bribe. Merely a post-pardon "gratuity".

Roberts posthumously pardoning Richard Nixon for firing Archibald Cox. How delightful.

man they're just stuffing as much congressional authority as they can into their comically oversized burglar bag

Does this also apply to the idea of turning all federal civil service (under the Executive) into at-will workers, retained on the basis of political loyalty?

Most definitely

Jazzed for the upcoming requirement for all federal employees to declare personal loyalty to Trump. No historical antecedents there!

Will be wild!

Karl Popper’s Vengeful Ghost 4 Prez 2024

🧐you got me. I’ll need to google.

So you can buy pardons now. These reactionary catholics really are bringing back indulgences! (i am catholic btw)

Christ almighty this court is atrocious

Wray should be unemployed by sundown

Did they have the balls to explicitly overrule Nixon v US?

The Project 2025 guys all came in unison upon reading all this

Are vice presidents and members of cabinets absolutely immune too?

They can be pardoned by the top man. So yes.

Or like. Selling pardons.

What if Biden had Trump arrested right now as an enemy of the state and had him removed from all ballots? That would be terrible as well... but it might by you time to pack the courts and fix this. I hate that I even sorta think this is a viable option.

So the President has absolute power? No worries about corruption there, obviously.

The alternative was Bernie, so libs think this was worth it.

Post