Not *quite* as absurd as "I can pardon myself*"

[conuly]

but nevertheless, a statement like "If a president did something that he believes will help him get elected, in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment" is still remarkably bold. I'm not sure if it says more about their desperation, their effrontery, or their intelligence that they're trying it with any level of seriousness.

* No, you can't. I don't care who you are or exactly what you're trying to pull, you cannot pardon yourself.

Comments

[ioplokon]

This reminds me of Duncan Hunter's lawyer saying that hotel rooms to sleep with lobbyists was a legitimate campaign expense. Trump the lesser, indeed...

[conuly]

Oh, ffs.

[dewline]

He'll cite his alternative-universe version of Article II and insist upon doing so anyway, and we all know that. Right?

[conuly]

He can try. If you've got that sort of political power, though, it's better spent in making the charges go away from the start

[nodrog]

"Cannot pardon yourself" - not even the Pope?
*grin*

[ioplokon]

The pope does have a personal confessor. So, no, not even the pope?

[silveradept]

It's the kind of thing you say when you're certain the jury will acquit you for the charges and can instead spend that time trying to get the base motivated so they will vote for more of the same. Or when you're playing to the audience of one that insists you have to make those arguments, no matter how little precedent or sense they make.

All it does is show which lawyers can be bought to say anything.

[conuly]

I wouldn't let Trump buy me. He's well known for not paying up

[silveradept]

Indeed. Cash up front with him. Or, more likely, having some favors buried under the rug so nobody finds them.

[magnetic_pole]

Seriously. M.