01/12/09: Bush's Unconstitutional "Preemptive Pardones." Sound familiar?
Posted by: John
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/us/politics/13bush.html?_r=1&;hp
A Reflective Bush Defends Decisions on National Security - NY Times, 1/12/09.
Anyone think "preemptive pardons" of people who haven't been indicted for any crime but might be prosecuted during the next administration, is a constitutional use of presidential authority consistent with rule of law? Isn't there supposed to be only one president at a time, and pardoning people from possible future prosecution during Obama's administration usurps Obama's exclusive authority to grant or refuse presidential pardons? Once again Bush is stretching the Constitution to cover his own ass, by shielding his cronies from prosecution and nearly inevitable "cooperation" with prosecutors (ratting out Bush) to save their own asses.
A Reflective Bush Defends Decisions on National Security - NY Times, 1/12/09.
Anyone think "preemptive pardons" of people who haven't been indicted for any crime but might be prosecuted during the next administration, is a constitutional use of presidential authority consistent with rule of law? Isn't there supposed to be only one president at a time, and pardoning people from possible future prosecution during Obama's administration usurps Obama's exclusive authority to grant or refuse presidential pardons? Once again Bush is stretching the Constitution to cover his own ass, by shielding his cronies from prosecution and nearly inevitable "cooperation" with prosecutors (ratting out Bush) to save their own asses.