No different than Clarence Thomas taking gifts for rulings. Normalizing the banana republic, here we come!
HalyRaller on
“How nice of you to pardon me! I now happen to feel like giving you a bunch of cash for no reason!”
Supreme Court: “Nothing to see here”
Silly-Scene6524 on
For himself????????
budderflyer on
This is the slippery slope Republican voters have got us into. Fucking Anti-American traitors, most of em!
Feeling-Success-385 on
Whether it’s NFTs, gold sneakers, “commemorative assassination” Christmas ornaments or pardons, TFG has been grifting the whole time he has been in office.
DavidG-LA on
This is what broke the Catholic Church in the 1500s – they were selling “go straight to heaven” tickets, called indulgences. Martin Luther spoke out and sparked the Reformation. And hundreds of years of war.
knotml on
Please let’s stop pretending that SCOTUS isn’t fucking weird.
GOP Justices and their majority has turned SCOTUS into a corrupt fascists shithole.
memomem on
he’s already basically selling cabinet positions.
RFK Jr. for HHS insane.
the only saving grace is, these positions have to be confirmed by the senate, so even if he’s selling cabinet positions, trading a nomination for a favor — we might still avoid RFK Jr. in charge of HHS. though even if RFK Jr. has any influence at HHS, i think millions of american could die.
imagine if RFK Jr. was around when the covid vaccines were in process through FDA. we probably still wouldn’t have approved vaccines, and our death tolls might be in the million+ territory by now. also, polio, whooping cough, measles, you name it, RFK Jr. will cause an outbreak of it.
The Trump Court is ruling that Trump is a superman, able to leap over laws that apply to all other people.
Rook008 on
Unless I’m reading this wrong, pardons are an official act of the Presidency. And Presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts.
Impeachment would be a barrier, but not much of one at the end of a second term, or if the President’s party has control of either the House or the Senate.
Wouldn’t that mean that pardons can literally be sold? (I may be missing something here.)
User4C4C4C on
This is insane. This goes against America’s fundamental principle that no one is above the law.
JeRazor on
“You don’t go by Monopoly, man. That game is *nuts*. Nobody just pick up Get Out of Jail Free cards. Those things cost thousands.” – Creed Bratton, The Office
He was so right and Oscar was wrong. Michael would be so happy!
AskandThink on
This may be the wrong sub but why can’t Congress overrule *anything* SCOTUS decides?
canihaveurpants on
Fuck the Supreme Court.
WDFKY on
“Oh, but you can just impeach him for [insert despicable thing] that we *never* thought he might do.”
– The Despicable Six on the Supreme Court
So, a second trmp term could be highlighted by a Congressional agenda overrun with oversight investigations into how Hair Fuhrer has sold off the powers of the Office of the President for personal gain (a grift on steroids). Tell me why a president shouldn’t face the deterrent of possible criminal prosecution for such obviously unacceptable and criminal behavior upon leaving office?
CornFedIABoy on
So all he has to do is appoint a “Special Advisor to the President” on the WH payroll to handle the negotiations. Any conversations he has with this person are then official business and fall under presumptive immunity. Any conversation the Special Advisor has with him is covered under regular Executive Privilege (and a preemptive pardon for extra measure). The actual payoffs are structured as low return investments in Trump Org projects. Nobody’s on the hook for anything.
benchcoat on
SCOTUS almost explicitly said in Trump’s immunity ruling:
“Hey Dummy! You can order a government official to do illegal shit and you are immune. …and Hey Dummy, even if someone tries to hold them accountable, this ruling also means you can pardon any of those people and it can’t be questioned! Get it, Dummy? We are explicitly giving you permission to be an unaccountable dictator!!”
Commercial_Data_6290 on
Breaking news: Supreme court has ruled Trump has right to name himself God emperor for eternity.
Hayes4prez on
This is one Republican position I can’t even see their side. Why would voters want to legalize corruption?
SelfSniped on
Sure! This isn’t ripe for abuse at *all*!
Thelast-Fartbender on
I mean, per the SCOTUS’ recent decisions, he can probably do anything he wants, really.
Last I checked, ‘take money’ falls into the “anything” category.
CaptainNoBoat on
First off, love Melissa Murray. She is an NYU professor and an amazing expert on Constitutional matters.
>”That immunity decision from July is so sweeping that the president can actually issue pardons. He could probably take money for issuing pardons and it would be okay because the Supreme Court has said that he has immunity for his official acts and the pardon power is explicit in the Constitution.”
In the SCOTUS immunity decision, they specified 3 different criteria:
– Core Constitutional powers (So think war powers, pardon powers, legislative authority, etc). Immune. Things explicitly stated in the constitution have a much greater chance of being explicitly and absolutely immune.
– “Official acts” that would otherwise impede the Constitutional functions of the executive branch. Immune, but more of a grey area. Judges like Chutkan are trying to navigate this right now – to exclude actions he took as President that – IF prosecuted – would not untenably affect the executive branch’s duties.
– Private acts or “official acts” outside the outer perimeter of the office. Not protected.
Since pardon power falls in that first category, it sets up this disastrous incentive structure for the executive in that a President *can compel others* to commit crimes and engage in conspiracies under the promise of legal immunity. And it expands the potential abuse of the office exponentially.
This is why the Seal Team 6 scenarios, executive branch scenarios, and others have expanded in potential considerably that dissenters on SC warned about. It’s one of the most dangerous takeaways of the decision.
Less_Tension_1168 on
The supreme Court is killing democracy
WackyBones510 on
The analysis and warnings from Melissa Murray are correct. The decisions almost explicitly say as much – this isn’t a reach at all but more of a weather report.
Didn’t we have this exact conversation several months ago when the underlying decisions were issued? All for reminding folks I guess.
SensibleTom on
Probably already did.
mapoftasmania on
He can take money for **anything** he agrees to do for **anyone** as long as that thing is an “official act”. He will be breaking the law but will be immune from prosecution.
All Executive Orders are now for sale.
This is what America has become.
ziusudra on
“Meanwhile, over 1,488 people have been charged for their alleged actions on January 6”
“over 1,488”??!!??!!
Does Newsweek have a crypto fascist on its writing staff? “Over” is for round numbers, like “over 1,400.” The better approximation here would be “nearly 1,500.” The only reason to write it this way is to sneak in a 14-88.
LivingDracula on
First, the effectively legalized bribes amongst themselves by saying that gratuity doesn’t count as a bribe, and now they do this?
Impeach the fuckers!
lamsham69 on
What makes y’all think he already didn’t?
ArtDecoAutomaton on
Yall it just means theres no law against it so congress should make a law to stop it
cbbbluedevil on
The Supreme Court desperately needs to be reformed to counter the current majority. They are a cancer to our country
mexisol187 on
Kodak Black paid 1M for a pardon.
IsGoingTTaM on
The ~~~Republican~~~ Banana Republic Party in a nutshell. SCOTUS is illegitimate.
dtisme53 on
So our government is basically going to become the Catholic church during the late Middle Ages and the renaissance? Selling indulgences?
finalattack123 on
Lol. American conservatives love supporting corruption.
Half-Shark on
The weirdest thing to me is Americans (even some intellectual leftists) still like to wax lyrical about the strength of their democracy. It’s like they think their constitution is magical or something. I don’t care about fucking documents, or myths and legends – I care about results. Far as I can see the results over in USA are bat-shit insane and undemocratic across the board. Constitutions and founding father worship don’t mean dick if you ignore the health, economic equality or education of your citizens.
I feel sorry for smarter citizens in USA and i feel sorry for the negative effects the world will feel – but for the love of god please USA: stop acting like you’re a guiding post for democracy when you’re actually a warning about how not to do it. The fact you were the first of modern democracies doesn’t mean anything now so stop relying on your mythology and actually do something to fix it. It all starts with realizing your system is fucked up. For decades the ridiculous structure of your political system was clear, the only difference now is that cretins like Trump have decided to take full advantage of the many weak spots.
imho, All that unchecked explosive American pride really messed your country up because it made everyone blind to the festering problems.
EDIT: Sorry about the rant. i’m just sick of the constant disappointment. I pray Trump loses and as this century develops, USA starts to wise up and fix itself. The world needs a more functional and fair USA at this critical juncture.
toosinbeymen on
Presidents can take money for pardons as long as they’re republicans and have trump for a last name.
Biscuits4u2 on
If Democrats ever pull off a major win and end up with supermajorities they need to pack the court and pass term limits for justices.
dispelhope on
And this is why the Supreme court is corrupt beyond salvage…activist conservative political judges allowing outrageous malfeasance for any politician to turn the executive branch into a imperial presidency for life.
RIP the U.S. Constitution.
Exotic-Definition-77 on
This is so wrong. Justice is not for sale
LiamtheV on
Article 2 literally lists bribery as an impeachable offense for which the President can be removed from office.
AdSmall1198 on
He can seize every dime from any American he wants to because of Trump v US.
He’s above the law.
And, he’s a criminal!
bing-bong-forever on
I think Trump has damaged the US in ways that will affect several generations from now.
AutomateAway on
if the Dems can retake the house and hold a margin in the Senate, a court packing will be in order and maybe the only thing that can turn around this giant clusterfuck
theseustheminotaur on
The president can profit directly from his presidency? What the hell is happening to this country
47 Comments
The Founders must be spinning in their graves.
No different than Clarence Thomas taking gifts for rulings. Normalizing the banana republic, here we come!
“How nice of you to pardon me! I now happen to feel like giving you a bunch of cash for no reason!”
Supreme Court: “Nothing to see here”
For himself????????
This is the slippery slope Republican voters have got us into. Fucking Anti-American traitors, most of em!
Whether it’s NFTs, gold sneakers, “commemorative assassination” Christmas ornaments or pardons, TFG has been grifting the whole time he has been in office.
This is what broke the Catholic Church in the 1500s – they were selling “go straight to heaven” tickets, called indulgences. Martin Luther spoke out and sparked the Reformation. And hundreds of years of war.
Please let’s stop pretending that SCOTUS isn’t fucking weird.
GOP Justices and their majority has turned SCOTUS into a corrupt fascists shithole.
he’s already basically selling cabinet positions.
RFK Jr. for HHS insane.
the only saving grace is, these positions have to be confirmed by the senate, so even if he’s selling cabinet positions, trading a nomination for a favor — we might still avoid RFK Jr. in charge of HHS. though even if RFK Jr. has any influence at HHS, i think millions of american could die.
imagine if RFK Jr. was around when the covid vaccines were in process through FDA. we probably still wouldn’t have approved vaccines, and our death tolls might be in the million+ territory by now. also, polio, whooping cough, measles, you name it, RFK Jr. will cause an outbreak of it.
[https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4864717-robert-kennedy-hhs-role-donald-trump/](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4864717-robert-kennedy-hhs-role-donald-trump/)
Try that in a small town…
The Trump Court is ruling that Trump is a superman, able to leap over laws that apply to all other people.
Unless I’m reading this wrong, pardons are an official act of the Presidency. And Presidents are immune from prosecution for official acts.
Impeachment would be a barrier, but not much of one at the end of a second term, or if the President’s party has control of either the House or the Senate.
Wouldn’t that mean that pardons can literally be sold? (I may be missing something here.)
This is insane. This goes against America’s fundamental principle that no one is above the law.
“You don’t go by Monopoly, man. That game is *nuts*. Nobody just pick up Get Out of Jail Free cards. Those things cost thousands.” – Creed Bratton, The Office
He was so right and Oscar was wrong. Michael would be so happy!
This may be the wrong sub but why can’t Congress overrule *anything* SCOTUS decides?
Fuck the Supreme Court.
“Oh, but you can just impeach him for [insert despicable thing] that we *never* thought he might do.”
– The Despicable Six on the Supreme Court
So, a second trmp term could be highlighted by a Congressional agenda overrun with oversight investigations into how Hair Fuhrer has sold off the powers of the Office of the President for personal gain (a grift on steroids). Tell me why a president shouldn’t face the deterrent of possible criminal prosecution for such obviously unacceptable and criminal behavior upon leaving office?
So all he has to do is appoint a “Special Advisor to the President” on the WH payroll to handle the negotiations. Any conversations he has with this person are then official business and fall under presumptive immunity. Any conversation the Special Advisor has with him is covered under regular Executive Privilege (and a preemptive pardon for extra measure). The actual payoffs are structured as low return investments in Trump Org projects. Nobody’s on the hook for anything.
SCOTUS almost explicitly said in Trump’s immunity ruling:
“Hey Dummy! You can order a government official to do illegal shit and you are immune. …and Hey Dummy, even if someone tries to hold them accountable, this ruling also means you can pardon any of those people and it can’t be questioned! Get it, Dummy? We are explicitly giving you permission to be an unaccountable dictator!!”
Breaking news: Supreme court has ruled Trump has right to name himself God emperor for eternity.
This is one Republican position I can’t even see their side. Why would voters want to legalize corruption?
Sure! This isn’t ripe for abuse at *all*!
I mean, per the SCOTUS’ recent decisions, he can probably do anything he wants, really.
Last I checked, ‘take money’ falls into the “anything” category.
First off, love Melissa Murray. She is an NYU professor and an amazing expert on Constitutional matters.
>”That immunity decision from July is so sweeping that the president can actually issue pardons. He could probably take money for issuing pardons and it would be okay because the Supreme Court has said that he has immunity for his official acts and the pardon power is explicit in the Constitution.”
In the SCOTUS immunity decision, they specified 3 different criteria:
– Core Constitutional powers (So think war powers, pardon powers, legislative authority, etc). Immune. Things explicitly stated in the constitution have a much greater chance of being explicitly and absolutely immune.
– “Official acts” that would otherwise impede the Constitutional functions of the executive branch. Immune, but more of a grey area. Judges like Chutkan are trying to navigate this right now – to exclude actions he took as President that – IF prosecuted – would not untenably affect the executive branch’s duties.
– Private acts or “official acts” outside the outer perimeter of the office. Not protected.
Since pardon power falls in that first category, it sets up this disastrous incentive structure for the executive in that a President *can compel others* to commit crimes and engage in conspiracies under the promise of legal immunity. And it expands the potential abuse of the office exponentially.
This is why the Seal Team 6 scenarios, executive branch scenarios, and others have expanded in potential considerably that dissenters on SC warned about. It’s one of the most dangerous takeaways of the decision.
The supreme Court is killing democracy
The analysis and warnings from Melissa Murray are correct. The decisions almost explicitly say as much – this isn’t a reach at all but more of a weather report.
Didn’t we have this exact conversation several months ago when the underlying decisions were issued? All for reminding folks I guess.
Probably already did.
He can take money for **anything** he agrees to do for **anyone** as long as that thing is an “official act”. He will be breaking the law but will be immune from prosecution.
All Executive Orders are now for sale.
This is what America has become.
“Meanwhile, over 1,488 people have been charged for their alleged actions on January 6”
“over 1,488”??!!??!!
Does Newsweek have a crypto fascist on its writing staff? “Over” is for round numbers, like “over 1,400.” The better approximation here would be “nearly 1,500.” The only reason to write it this way is to sneak in a 14-88.
First, the effectively legalized bribes amongst themselves by saying that gratuity doesn’t count as a bribe, and now they do this?
Impeach the fuckers!
What makes y’all think he already didn’t?
Yall it just means theres no law against it so congress should make a law to stop it
The Supreme Court desperately needs to be reformed to counter the current majority. They are a cancer to our country
Kodak Black paid 1M for a pardon.
The ~~~Republican~~~ Banana Republic Party in a nutshell. SCOTUS is illegitimate.
So our government is basically going to become the Catholic church during the late Middle Ages and the renaissance? Selling indulgences?
Lol. American conservatives love supporting corruption.
The weirdest thing to me is Americans (even some intellectual leftists) still like to wax lyrical about the strength of their democracy. It’s like they think their constitution is magical or something. I don’t care about fucking documents, or myths and legends – I care about results. Far as I can see the results over in USA are bat-shit insane and undemocratic across the board. Constitutions and founding father worship don’t mean dick if you ignore the health, economic equality or education of your citizens.
I feel sorry for smarter citizens in USA and i feel sorry for the negative effects the world will feel – but for the love of god please USA: stop acting like you’re a guiding post for democracy when you’re actually a warning about how not to do it. The fact you were the first of modern democracies doesn’t mean anything now so stop relying on your mythology and actually do something to fix it. It all starts with realizing your system is fucked up. For decades the ridiculous structure of your political system was clear, the only difference now is that cretins like Trump have decided to take full advantage of the many weak spots.
imho, All that unchecked explosive American pride really messed your country up because it made everyone blind to the festering problems.
EDIT: Sorry about the rant. i’m just sick of the constant disappointment. I pray Trump loses and as this century develops, USA starts to wise up and fix itself. The world needs a more functional and fair USA at this critical juncture.
Presidents can take money for pardons as long as they’re republicans and have trump for a last name.
If Democrats ever pull off a major win and end up with supermajorities they need to pack the court and pass term limits for justices.
And this is why the Supreme court is corrupt beyond salvage…activist conservative political judges allowing outrageous malfeasance for any politician to turn the executive branch into a imperial presidency for life.
RIP the U.S. Constitution.
This is so wrong. Justice is not for sale
Article 2 literally lists bribery as an impeachable offense for which the President can be removed from office.
He can seize every dime from any American he wants to because of Trump v US.
He’s above the law.
And, he’s a criminal!
I think Trump has damaged the US in ways that will affect several generations from now.
if the Dems can retake the house and hold a margin in the Senate, a court packing will be in order and maybe the only thing that can turn around this giant clusterfuck
The president can profit directly from his presidency? What the hell is happening to this country