Politics Weekly America What happens if Trump pardons the January 6 rioters?
Jan 3, 2025
Kimberly Wehle, a constitutional law expert and author focused on presidential power, joins the discussion on the implications of Trump's potential pardons for January 6 rioters. She analyzes the complexities of presidential pardons, contrasting high-profile cases like Hunter Biden's with systemic inequities in justice. The conversation delves into the larger political ramifications, questioning the integrity of democracy and legal accountability in the face of personal political interests. Wehle provides insight into the chilling effects these actions may have on free speech and the rule of law.
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Presidential Pardons Under Scrutiny
- Presidential pardons are being questioned as potentially tools for personal gain.
- This follows Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter, and Trump's pledge to pardon January 6th rioters.
Preemptive Pardons: Nixon to Biden
- Richard Nixon's pardon set a precedent for preemptive pardons, covering potential past crimes related to Watergate.
- Joe Biden used similar language when pardoning his son, Hunter.
Biden's Pardon: A Novel Response
- The anticipation of Trump using the Justice Department for political revenge may justify Biden's pardon of Hunter.
- This is a historically unique situation, potentially driven by anticipated political weaponization of justice.