Why So Focused on Pardon Powers, Mr. President?

Apparently, presidential pardons are on President Trump’s mind, these days.

Seriously, the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election is just catching steam, since Robert Mueller was assigned as special counsel in mid-May, and there’s already talk of Trump exploring pardon powers.

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On Thursday, reports emerged that Trump’s lawyers were looking into presidential pardon powers, in connection to the ongoing special investigation.

This coincides with the reports that Mueller is expanding his investigation to look into Trump’s businesses.

And while Mueller and his team are playing whatever they may be finding at this stage very close to the vest, every day seems to give them some new twist to explore.

Friday evening’s news was about Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Last week it was about Donald Trump Jr. It’s getting to the point where there seems to be no one in Trump’s orbit that hasn’t done something to incriminate themselves.

Trump took to Twitter early Saturday to remind the world that he could pardon anybody, anytime he wants.

The facts are, Trump’s inexperience, coupled with a lifelong attitude of mercenary entitlement has backed him into this corner.

On Friday, newly named White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders would not rule out that the president was considering the notion of pardons, but went on to say that wasn’t an issue, at present.

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No, because the investigation isn’t complete.

Still, people are paying attention. And they are concerned.

The report drew harsh criticism from Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. He warned Trump that pardoning anyone involved in the investigation would be “crossing a fundamental line.”

The possibility that the president is considering pardons at this early stage in these ongoing investigations is extremely disturbing,” he said. “Pardoning any individuals who may have been involved would be crossing a fundamental line.”

It’s not like pardons haven’t happened, before.

I think the problem is that his zeroing in on pardons before there’s even been a charge made makes it seem as if he knows there’s something to be concerned about, and he’s desperate to cover.

The man and all his crew may be completely innocent, but if proving that is the goal, he’s going about it completely wrong.

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