General Discussion

Chasstev365

(7,507 posts) Wed Feb 25, 2026, 06:35 PM 19 hrs ago

If Trump has already preemptively pardoned Patel, Bondi, and the rest of his sick cabinet, will there be any recourse?

I fear not. At the very least, they should never be able to show their criminal faces in public again.

12 replies

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If Trump has already preemptively pardoned Patel, Bondi, and the rest of his sick cabinet, will there be any recourse? (Original Post) Chasstev365 19 hrs ago OP

State charges? SheltieLover 19 hrs ago #1

Yes, and that's about it. iemanja 17 hrs ago #10

At some point, a corrupt pardon has to be invalidated C_U_L8R 19 hrs ago #2

You would think, but with this Supreme Court, I think we already know how they'd rule. Chasstev365 19 hrs ago #3

Yeah, I was dreaming of some democracy somewhere. C_U_L8R 19 hrs ago #5

Yes. State Charges can be applied for many of their crimes/offenses. NY, CA, IL, MN to start... hlthe2b 19 hrs ago #4

They certainly act with the smug confidence of immunity. I'd love lady Justice wipe their evil smirks off their faces Blues Heron 19 hrs ago #6

The preemptive pardon was, I believe, invented by Tom Clancy. rzemanfl 17 hrs ago #7

Biden preemptively pardoned the January 6th committee and his family EdmondDantes_ 17 hrs ago #11

I don't think those rzemanfl 13 hrs ago #12

Treason Blue Full Moon 17 hrs ago #8

Let's hope he dies suddenly and doesn't pardon kimbutgar 17 hrs ago #9

SheltieLover

(79,239 posts)

1. State charges?

Reply to Chasstev365 (Original post)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 06:40 PM

19 hrs ago

iemanja

(57,709 posts)

10. Yes, and that's about it.

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #1)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 08:54 PM

17 hrs ago

Unless they could somehow prove the pardon was part of a criminal conspiracy, but given SCOTUS' immunity ruling, that seems unlikely.

C_U_L8R

(49,217 posts)

2. At some point, a corrupt pardon has to be invalidated

Reply to Chasstev365 (Original post)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 06:43 PM

19 hrs ago

Right??

Chasstev365

(7,507 posts)

3. You would think, but with this Supreme Court, I think we already know how they'd rule.

Reply to C_U_L8R (Reply #2)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 06:44 PM

19 hrs ago

C_U_L8R

(49,217 posts)

5. Yeah, I was dreaming of some democracy somewhere.

Reply to Chasstev365 (Reply #3)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 06:47 PM

19 hrs ago

hlthe2b

(113,468 posts)

4. Yes. State Charges can be applied for many of their crimes/offenses. NY, CA, IL, MN to start...

Reply to Chasstev365 (Original post)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 06:47 PM

19 hrs ago

Not to mention disbarment for those who are lawyers (e.g., Bondi) and a potential military court martial/tribunal for war crimes (Hegseth)...

No Presidential pardons for state crimes/convictions.

Blues Heron

(8,584 posts)

6. They certainly act with the smug confidence of immunity. I'd love lady Justice wipe their evil smirks off their faces

Reply to Chasstev365 (Original post)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 06:49 PM

19 hrs ago

rzemanfl

(31,296 posts)

7. The preemptive pardon was, I believe, invented by Tom Clancy.

Reply to Chasstev365 (Original post)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 08:33 PM

17 hrs ago

In NOVELS. I don't believe an offense against the United States can be pardoned before it happens. I that were true, Mike Pence and others would have died on January 6th.

EdmondDantes_

(1,617 posts)

11. Biden preemptively pardoned the January 6th committee and his family

Reply to rzemanfl (Reply #7)

Wed Feb 25, 2026, 08:59 PM

17 hrs ago

And with the exception of Hunter, none of them have even been accused of a crime legally (I'm sure Trump has accused them, but that's not a legal accusation).