As per thread title.

Example.

When wishing to pardon someone as he leaves office, could Trump offer that particular person a blanket pardon to cover all potential crimes done by than person? Or only offer a pardon for each crime by naming it?

Let’s say general giving orders to sink supposed drug boats as has been in the news.

Could Trump issue something along the lines of, “ I hereby pardon you for any and all acts carried out under my administration that might be considered criminal by any future administration.” ?

Basically , these days , the greater the crime the quicker the pardon !

12 minutes ago, phetphet said:

As per thread title.

Example.

When wishing to pardon someone as he leaves office, could Trump offer that particular person a blanket pardon to cover all potential crimes done by than person? Or only offer a pardon for each crime by naming it?

Let’s say general giving orders to sink supposed drug boats as has been in the news.

Could Trump issue something along the lines of, “ I hereby pardon you for any and all acts carried out under my administration that might be considered criminal by any future administration.” ?

You mean like Biden did? No, the left would never allow it

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

You mean like Biden did? No, the left would never allow it

I don’t know. That’s why I was asking.

So you are suggesting that it’s possible to give a blanket pardon to someone without naming the crime for which they are receiving the pardon?

A sort of pardon for anything that you might be charged with in the future?

OK. Thanks.

Simply put - you pay the president a boat load of money and get your choice of pardons.

22 minutes ago, phetphet said:

I don’t know. That’s why I was asking.

So you are suggesting that it’s possible to give a blanket pardon to someone without naming the crime for which they are receiving the pardon?

A sort of pardon for anything that you might be charged with in the future?

OK. Thanks.

Yes. I think that would be called a preemptive pardon.

Amazing that 'AutoPen' didn't run out of ink ...

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

As per thread title.

Example.

When wishing to pardon someone as he leaves office, could Trump offer that particular person a blanket pardon to cover all potential crimes done by than person? Or only offer a pardon for each crime by naming it?

Let’s say general giving orders to sink supposed drug boats as has been in the news.

Could Trump issue something along the lines of, “ I hereby pardon you for any and all acts carried out under my administration that might be considered criminal by any future administration.” ?

The corrupt Biden literally did this for all his family. Not a single forum leftie objected. Bit late to start blurting over pardons after that insanity.

Dont you remember the shattering of the forum lefts mantra "everyone is equal under the law" from when they were in full witch hunt mode trying for a decade to charge Trump with a series of hoaxes and fantasy crimes?

I hope Trump pardons every inmate that voted for him, that should raise some eyebrows at Marthas.

8 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

I hope Trump pardons every inmate that voted for him, that should raise some eyebrows at Marthas.

I think you meant to say;

I hope Trump pardons every inmate that voted for him, that should raise some eyebrows at Marthas. his very substantial increases to his bank balances as a result!

I believe the Supreme Court are the final arbiters in a dispute.

The administration doing illegal things knowing and in the full expectation they will be pardoned, could eventually have those pardons overturned by the Supreme Court.

3 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

I believe the Supreme Court are the final arbiters in a dispute.

The administration doing illegal things knowing and in the full expectation they will be pardoned, could eventually have those pardons overturned by the Supreme Court.

They cannot be overturned!

The Supreme Court cannot overturn a presidential pardon for federal offenses; the pardon power is considered “unlimited”!

The U.S. Constitution grants the president the authority to issue pardons for federal offenses, except in cases of impeachment (Article II, Section 2). The Supreme Court has consistently described this power as plenary and independent, meaning it cannot be limited, modified, or overturned by Congress or the courts. This includes pardons issued before, during, or after criminal proceedings.

govfacts.org

6 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

They cannot be overturned!

The Supreme Court cannot overturn a presidential pardon for federal offenses; the pardon power is considered “unlimited”!

The U.S. Constitution grants the president the authority to issue pardons for federal offenses, except in cases of impeachment (Article II, Section 2). The Supreme Court has consistently described this power as plenary and independent, meaning it cannot be limited, modified, or overturned by Congress or the courts. This includes pardons issued before, during, or after criminal proceedings.

govfacts.org

Maybe.

But if the Supreme Court say they can overturn a pardon, then they can. They are the final arbiters.

For example, if their interpretation was that the founding fathers never intended a specific scenario of illegal activity committed because pardon expected, then they might.

There is no higher authority for appeal.

47 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Maybe.

But if the Supreme Court say they can overturn a pardon, then they can. They are the final arbiters.

For example, if their interpretation was that the founding fathers never intended a specific scenario of illegal activity committed because pardon expected, then they might.

There is no higher authority for appeal.

There is no maybe. The Constitution gives the president absolute power to pardon federal crimes. There are a few exceptions, but no one that has received a presidential pardon to date would qualify.

We can agree to disagree.

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

But if the Supreme Court say they can overturn a pardon, then they can. They are the final arbiters.

The Supreme Court doesn't SAY anything. They would only issue a ruling on a case they have chosen to accept on appeal.

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Amazing that 'AutoPen' didn't run out of ink ...

Would I be wrong to presume Obama and Biden gave so many pardons for non violent drug related crimes because it’s cheaper than keeping them in prison?

Or is there another reason such as lack of prison space? A bit like Starmer last year releasing criminals before completing their sentences?

54 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Would I be wrong to presume Obama and Biden gave so many pardons for non violent drug related crimes because it’s cheaper than keeping them in prison?

Or is there another reason such as lack of prison space? A bit like Starmer last year releasing criminals before completing their sentences?

Yes, you would be wrong.

Nonviolent drug related crimes would typically be state, not federal crimes, and as such, the president could not pardon them.

7 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

You mean like Biden did? No, the left would never allow it

They would have no problem throwing Hunter under the bus

3 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

They would have no problem throwing Hunter under the bus

I heared he was going to run in '28

Could Trump issue something along the lines of, “ I hereby pardon myself for any and all acts carried out by me and my administration that might be considered criminal by any future administration.” ?

Just now, ravip said:

Could Trump issue something along the lines of, “ I hereby pardon myself for any and all acts carried out me and my administration that might be considered criminal by any future administration.” ?

Unless he is impeached.

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

Unless he is impeached.

Doing that in the US? Absolutely unthinkable — might dent that carefully polished “global status,” and we can’t have that, can we?

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

Would I be wrong to presume Obama and Biden gave so many pardons for non violent drug related crimes because it’s cheaper than keeping them in prison?

Or is there another reason such as lack of prison space? A bit like Starmer last year releasing criminals before completing their sentences?

Trump moved that bar a tad when he pardoned Hernandez, who had conspired to import 400 tonnes of cocaine.

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Trump moved that bar a tad when he pardoned Hernandez, who had conspired to import 400 tonnes of cocaine.

And Biden pardoning a cop-killer

22 minutes ago, ravip said:

Doing that in the US? Absolutely unthinkable — might dent that carefully polished “global status,” and we can’t have that, can we?

He has been impeached for nothing twice, so I assume if the left takes the house this year, he'll be impeached for nothing again.

3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

He has been impeached for nothing twice, so I assume if the left takes the house this year, he'll be impeached for nothing again.

He is the smartest and the bravest Prez the US could ever find

You have to remember a U.S. president can pardon Federal offenses, not state or local offenses. In practice, Trump can grant a pardon for treason, sedition, counterfeiting, Federal money-laundering and drug offenses as well as other serious crimes, but he can't pardon anyone for local parking tickets or murder under state law.

Bottom line: An individual who has been convicted in a state court, or who is suspected of committing a crime under state law, cannot be pardoned or shown any other form of clemency by a U.S. president.

14 minutes ago, ravip said:

Could Trump issue something along the lines of, “ I hereby pardon myself for any and all acts carried out by me and my administration that might be considered criminal by any future administration.” ?

In theory, that is possible. The Supreme Court has held the presidential powers of pardon under Article 2, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution. are "unlimited" and "plenary" (absolute), with the exception of impeachment. A president's decision to grant clemency cannot be overturned by the Congress, Federal court system or a future president.

The relevant words in the Constitution state the President "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."

Biden and Obama granted thousands of commutations for non-violent drug offenses. The perps weren't pardoned, but had their jail sentences shortened, most commonly to time served. That was largely due to the Democratic Party position that many people of color had been too harshly sentenced under Federal drug laws.

You can read some background here: The Presidential Pardon Power

https://govfacts.org/criminal-justice-public-safety/criminal-courts-legal-process/pardons-clemency/the-presidential-pardon-power/

You can read the official list of Trumps pardons here: Clemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025 - Present) https://www.justice.gov/pardon

This is what a Presidential Pardon looks like. It's Trumps most recent and was granted posthumously to a former U.S. football star who got involved in a counterfeiting scheme. It's this type of pardon that is most common.

https://www.justice.gov/pardon/media/1427761/dl?inline

You can read the story behind the pardon here:

President Trump pardons LSU Heisman winner Billy Cannon

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a posthumous pardon to former LSU football star Billy Cannon, who served time in federal prison in the 1980s for counterfeiting. 

Cannon served two and a half years out of a five-year sentence for printing $6 million in fake $100 bills.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/president-trump-pardons-lsu-heisman-210639407.html

7 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

You have to remember a U.S. president can pardon Federal offenses, not state or local offenses. In practice, Trump can grant a pardon for treason, sedition, counterfeiting, Federal money-laundering and drug offenses as well as other serious crimes, but he can't pardon anyone for local parking tickets or murder under state law.

Bottom line: An individual who has been convicted in a state court, or who is suspected of committing a crime under state law, cannot be pardoned or shown any other form of clemency by a U.S. president.

In theory, that is possible. The Supreme Court has held the presidential powers of pardon under Article 2, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution. are "unlimited" and "plenary" (absolute), with the exception of impeachment. A president's decision to grant clemency cannot be overturned by the Congress, Federal court system or a future president.

The relevant words in the Constitution state the President "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."

Biden and Obama granted thousands of commutations for non-violent drug offenses. The perps weren't pardoned, but had their jail sentences shortened, most commonly to time served. That was largely due to the Democratic Party position that many people of color had been too harshly sentenced under Federal drug laws.

You can read some background here: The Presidential Pardon Power

https://govfacts.org/criminal-justice-public-safety/criminal-courts-legal-process/pardons-clemency/the-presidential-pardon-power/

You can read the official list of Trumps pardons here: Clemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025 - Present) https://www.justice.gov/pardon

All correct.

There are a couple of other points of note.

A pardoned offender loses their 5th amendment rights for the pardoned crime(s).

This is if particular legal interest when the pardoned crimes were committed as part of an ‘organized crime/criminal conspiracy’ (RICO).

An example might be, an Attorney General is pardoned for crimes relating to engaging in a criminal conspiracy to use the offices of the DOJ to cover up child sex crimes.

A former AG might be given a pardon but would not then be able to cite her 5th Amendment rights to avoid giving evidence against others in the criminal conspiracy to cover up the sex crimes against children.

This presents a scenario in which a corrupt President entraps members of his own administration in RICO crimes, then promises them Pardons to keep them loyal and from giving evidence against him.

If he gives the pardon too soon he names the crime while stripping 5th Amendment rights from people he needs to remain silent.

A former AG dragged before a hostile Congress might find herself in a very difficult position, failure to answer questions being grounds for later criminal prosecution.

As you point out, State prosecutors would still have power to investigate and prosecute.

Likewise a promise of pardons prior to crimes being committed might be argued as an inducement to commit crimes. The SCOTUS might very well want to hear arguments on that as an abuse of the Pardon Power.

The Presidential Power of Pardon is being used with clear criminal intent, there is no precedence for how that will play out if brought to the SCOTUS.

10 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The SCOTUS might very well want to hear arguments on that as an abuse of the Pardon Power.

The SCOTUS might very well want to hear such arguments AFTER a person or persons have been indicted on Federal criminal counts and those criminal indictments have been argued and lost by the person(s) so indicted at the district and federal appeals level.

The government cannot appeal a lost criminal trial.