Will he resign to get a pardon? What say you?

[Solomon]

I don't think his ego will let him resign. Plus, there is no guarantee that Pence will pardon him if he resigns even if Pence promises to do so.

I think he will try to pardon himself.

29 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	He will resign in January to get a pardon from Pence
	2 (7%)
	He will not resign. He will try to pardon himself.
	18 (62%)
	He will not resign or try to pardon himself.
	9 (31%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[Newest Reality]

1. Keep in mind that a pardon is also an admission of guilt.

[spooky3]

2. Not in Trump World. But you make a good point. Nt

[moonscape]

13. He would spin a pardon to his cult

who already think he has been unfairly persecuted by the radical socialists, antifa and the fake media. He’s forced to pardon himself to protect against all of that.

He’ll suffer nothing by pardoning himself. They would cheer and wave flags.

[sir pball]

20. It actually isn't legally, but there is another interesting effect...

The decision in Burdick says that a pardon "carries an imputation of guilt", but that's mere dicta with no legal weight. At least, likely so, it's never actually been decided either way in court.

What Burdick DID make crystal-clear though, a pardon categorically denies the ability to claim the Fifth. You don't have to accept a pardon, but if you do, you by definition cannot self-incriminate.

If Trump were to accept a Nixon-style blanket pardon, he couldn't personally be tried for anything but he could absolutely be hauled in front of the court, ordered to testify, and if he refused, he'd be locked up on contempt charges until such time as he changed his mind.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

30. Yeah I've never bought that "admission of guilt" theory.

One of the main reasons the pardon power exists is to check unfair political prosecutions. It doesn’t make sense to rescue someone from unfair political prosecution and then require the person to be considered guilty.

[Moostache]

3. As long as he is gone, I don't care.

A federal pardon for crimes committed in the White House won't shield him from state courts and tax evasion, campaign finance violations ("Individual One" is still awaiting trial I believe) or the myriad of other things has done...

[DinahMoeHum]

4. Does it matter? NY state will nail his ass to the wall. . .

. . .and AG Letitia James is the lioness licking her chops in pursuit of that quarry.

[ananda]

5. He might.

I have a bet with my brother saying he won't,
but I could be wrong.

[rso]

6. Pardon

I don’t think he’ll take any chances and pardon himself, as such a pardon is legally questionable. So he’ll most likely take a constitutionally guaranteed pardon from Pence.

[Solomon]

15. I agree that pardoning himself will not work. But what guarantee would he have that Pence will

follow through and pardon him if he resigns. He can't unresign if Pence doesn't cooperate. What is the "constitutionally guaranteed" pardon that you speak of?

[rso]

23. Pardon

I was referring to a pardon by Pence, which would be inviolable and constitutionally foolproof. Of course, that assumes that Pence would keep his word to Trump.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

31. One theory I've seen floated is he could invoke the 25th for a day...

... and have Pence pardon Trump while Pence is President. It could be done under the guise of Trump needing general anesthesia for some procedure. Or no guise at all.

[rso]

34. Pardon

But can he trust Pence to definitely relinquish control after the one day ?.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

35. Section 3 allows The President to rescind with another letter.

Section 4 covers involuntary taking of the authority and how it is maintained if The President objects.

[WheelWalker]

7. He resigns. "You can't fire me - I quit!"

[Zoonart]

12. Agree.

"I won, the election was rigged, I quit. Let that Loser Pence stand behind Biden at the inauguration."
Something like this.

[icwlmuscyia]

8. Whatever direction he picks it will be poorly thought out

and will somehow boomerang on him.

[stage left]

9. Hell, no!

They will have to drag him out of the White House, kicking and screaming and yelling "I did too win!" I hope they stream it.

[liberaltrucker]

22. No streaming necessary

It'll be carried live on all networks and cable outlets.

[keithbvadu2]

10. He would get a two-for. A pardon and not have to face an incoming 'winner' at inauguration .

He would get a two-for.

A pardon and not have to face an incoming 'winner' at inauguration .

[BlueTsunami2018]

11. I think Cohen had it right.

He’ll slink off to Florida for Christmas and never come back to Washington. A pardon would mean he’s been indicted or charged with something and would have to admit to committing crimes. I don’t think he’d ever do that.

[Solly Mack]

14. He'll slither into the sewers and become the creature from the DC sewage. An orange blob with eyes

a cirrhosis yellow - and whose skin is pockmarked with gaseous, suppurating bubbles that gurgle and pop as the creature slithers along the tunnels. Rancid orange secretions flowing from the now oozing pus pockets, leaving a trail of fetid slime in its wake.

There will be the occasional sightings, along with some blurry photos. A scary bedtime story will be written and stern admonishments will come to pass. "Behave!" people will tell their children - or the "Orange Blob will get you!".

[Solomon]

16. !

You owe me a keyboard!

[Solly Mack]

19. Sure, laugh. But just wait until the cell division starts.

Shudder.

[Mike 03]

17. Mark Meadows said something odd today. Maybe it was just a mistake, or was

it a slip?

Kevin Liptak
@Kevinliptakcnn
Mark Meadows attended GOP lunch at the Capitol today and offered what senators are describing as a good-bye message. Cornyn tells reporters Meadows talked about “basically just there are about 45 days left of the president’s term." Per @alizaslav

Why did he say 45 days?

Will Trump resign two weeks before Inauguration Day?

[WheelWalker]

21. Very insightful. The inference is not particularly obvious and thus warrants merit.

[Pobeka]

18. He will flee the country. Better than 50/50 odds I think now.

[Solomon]

24. That would definitely be the smart play. But I think he thinks democrats

lack the will to prosecute him.

[Pobeka]

25. Yeah, but the SDNY is another story all together.

I think he'll flee (because that's not pardonable), starts a TV network, plays the "rightful ruler in exile" gig to continue to soak the marks as long as he can.

[Solomon]

26. Oh I actually agree that there's nothing he can do about state prosecutions.

He's bought so many off over the years that he probably thinks he can do it again.

[Pobeka]

27. Yep. His confidence in always winning is why I don't say 100% odds ;-) n/t

[MoonRiver]

28. He'll never resign, cause that would prove he's a LOSER.

A pardon, by himself or Pence, is a statement of guilt, which he could also not tolerate. I think he'll skip the country.

[grantcart]

29. Another option, no pardon, moves off shore

A pardon won't give him what he wants, total separation from legal hassles.

He will face an unrelenting river of state criminal and civil law suits plus if he takes a pardon he can be called as a witness without the claim to avoid self incrimination.

Add to that the possible collapse of his financial world the safe bet for him would be to off shore $ 100 million and move to Abu Dhabi.

[ooky]

32. I think his instinct for cowardice will have the most influence on his chosen course of action.

Fear of incarceration will be his most overwhelming worry.

Self pardon carries too much risk since it has never been tested. So I do think he'll resign to receive a Pence pardon which will protect him from federal prosecution.

Any option that includes the possibility of incarceration like state prosecutions still remain a problem though, so the best way to deal with that is to leave the country for someplace that has no extradition treaty with the U.S. If he doesn't leave, he will fear that New York State will "move on him like a bitch".

So, in order, he will leave the country, then resign, then receive pardon by Pence.

[H2O Man]

33. Recommended.

I think he will attempt to pardon himself.