The same thought of a Trump pardon had occurred to me although my reasoning was not as eloquently constructed as yours. I simply thought that since Trump stands no chance of prosecution, there is nothing to lose and much to gain. Trump (and his Maga loyalists) would be reluctantly beholden to Biden and would have a difficult time arguing for any further prosecutions of Hunter and of their perceived enemies. The only major downside would be the further cementing of the precedent that Presidents are above the law. Lastly, is there no end to your talents that you direct Shakespearian plays in your downtime from law school!!??
“On that front, I’ll throw out a controversial take: I think President Biden should pardon Trump.”
This is not controversial *at all.* This would be in accordance with precedent, wise, and put the country on a path to healing and (at the risk of false dichotomies) concentrating on technical, substantive, but “boring” issues like SCADA attacks, monitoring for future FARA violations two or three levels down from names that people recognize, or pervasive but seemingly low level municipal corruption.
There is a practical issue with your suggestion, but this is not the forum or time for an open discussion.
I subscribed for some practical insight to formal matters I thought I should learn about, but I appreciate that it comes from someone with level headed perspective. Glad to be here.
Why should Biden pardon ConOld, when ConOld stated he could shoot Biden on the front lawn? ConOld does not need a pardon now, he just pardoned himself by winning the election, which seems a lot odd at that.
Definitely disagree on a pardon for Trump. You are suggesting that he should be pardoned for stealing highly sensitive documents, perhaps disclosing that information to adversaries, for inciting an insurrection ( a coup) against the United States in violation of his oath? The pardon power was created to show mercy in the face of injustice. None of these prosecutions were unjust. In fact by using the justice system itself, Trump benefited greatly by delaying these prosecutions and let's not forget the assistance of a SCOTUS, which granted the executive absolute immunity, and caused further delay. This is the benefit of real privilege. He has escaped justice - thanks mainly to SCOTUS, but this does not mean he should be pardoned. His actions are historic fact , by pardoning him Biden would be muddying the waters with the implication that somehow the prosecutors were unjust, at fault even. Let's not try to rewrite history here. This period should live on in infamy.
I find it difficult to conceive of a situation where the decision to pardon Trump for his actions in fomenting insurrection and his unlawful retention of secret government information would prompt him to accept that his actions were criminal. He would most likely take clemency as proof that he was the subject of a Witch Hunt and encourage him to pardon his co-conspirators and those accused and imprisoned in the Jan 6 events.
Clemency towards MAGAs was the start to the failure of prosecuting insurrection leaders, using it to end prosecution would make injustice final.
This injustice needs to stand forever to shame the instigators (who may not have shame like Trump) and all who went along. The US is still fighting the civil war because slave p owners were allowed to retake their positions in society, the same is happening now with insurrectionists.
During my seven year stint as an associate pastor in a relatively fundamentalist church I frequently dealt with church members so wrapped up in pietism that their spiritual life was oppressive for them and those around them. I would urge them to contemplate Micah 6:8, which said God considers three things good and expects those three things from us. To do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Some would react with, “Just three things? That’s easy!” No it’s not, because doing those things require you to put that checklist against your every thought and action.
Balancing justice against mercy is a tough one, but the key is we’re told to do justice, not to love doing it, but we are told to love mercy, toward ourselves and others. In law enforcement you see a lot that doesn’t move you to be merciful. But we’re to prioritize that humanity over vengeance, punishment and recompense for evil done to ourselves and others.
And no accident the final expectation is we maintain our humility. I see no way to fulfill the first two requirements unless we remain humble about our ability to judge what is just and merciful and how to balance the calls we have to make.
I’m no longer a believer in any sense, but that verse continues to guide my life, because life without justice and mercy isn’t a life I think is worth living, and I’m humble enough to know that even if I no longer think a deity spoke those words to Micah, they’re good words, and better than anything I have to offer as a guide to life.
Your description of the history of the FBI an it's independent way of (serving) the DOJ and the qualifications needed to be FBI Director certainly makes Mr.Patel an "infinite outlier"!
May I say Ms.Asha i completely disagree with Ur' suggestion (opinion)
that President Joe Biden should .... Pardon President elect Trump....what message would that send to the "Youth of this Country"and historically to the the fabric of Our Rule of Law....that " NOBODY is above the LAW!!!" 4 years goes by pretty quickly and the "statues of limitations" i expect won't (expire) no one should be allowed to plan a "coup" or obstruct the Law by refusing to turn over "Top Secret Information" he stole when flying off from the White House....." Professor Rangappa. @AshaRangappa
Although various celebrity former federal prosecutors have claimed that Hunter Biden would never have been singled out for prosecution when they were in power, this is absolutely and demonstrably false; statements made for public consumption which could not be made with a straight face in a room full of AUSAs and criminal defense counsel.
The amount of tax fraud committed by Hunter Biden well exceeds unpublished but very real declination limits. People are in prison today who evaded far less tax.
This can be said of the gun offense as well. It is likely that he would have received probation—but a pass—not a chance.
His addiction is mitigation, nothing else. Our jails and prisons are full of people who would not have violated the law had it not been for their drug abuse.
You can disagree with my opinion that the pardon was a naked abuse of power on behalf of the privileged scion of the most powerful man in the nation BUT your assertion that Hunter Biden would never have been indicted but for the fact of who he is, turns reality on its head. Hunter Biden was pardoned only because his father possesses the absolute power to do what no other father in the nation has the power to do.
I would like your take (and support for) on President's promise to commute all federal and military death sentences, etc. Why is he taking so long to say yes or no? I am a retired public defender capital case trial attorney in the 1980s New Orleans area.
Congratulations to you, Asha, on making Jay Kuo’s newly retitled column, Just for “Skeets” and Giggles.” It’s quite an honor.
Oh! Can you send me a link??
https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/just-for-skeets-and-giggles
One nice side-effect of pardoning Trump is that it would irrevokably place an act of mercy (and benefit to the nation's polity) into his mind.
Oh, I think he would overcome the example, but he'd never be able to make it go away.
Lots to dive into, Asha. Interesting take on pardoning. Thanks and I look forward to the beach picture.
Thanks for posting your OG op-ed from 2001. Enjoy the beach!
Brilliant. Many thanks
The same thought of a Trump pardon had occurred to me although my reasoning was not as eloquently constructed as yours. I simply thought that since Trump stands no chance of prosecution, there is nothing to lose and much to gain. Trump (and his Maga loyalists) would be reluctantly beholden to Biden and would have a difficult time arguing for any further prosecutions of Hunter and of their perceived enemies. The only major downside would be the further cementing of the precedent that Presidents are above the law. Lastly, is there no end to your talents that you direct Shakespearian plays in your downtime from law school!!??
“On that front, I’ll throw out a controversial take: I think President Biden should pardon Trump.”
This is not controversial *at all.* This would be in accordance with precedent, wise, and put the country on a path to healing and (at the risk of false dichotomies) concentrating on technical, substantive, but “boring” issues like SCADA attacks, monitoring for future FARA violations two or three levels down from names that people recognize, or pervasive but seemingly low level municipal corruption.
There is a practical issue with your suggestion, but this is not the forum or time for an open discussion.
I subscribed for some practical insight to formal matters I thought I should learn about, but I appreciate that it comes from someone with level headed perspective. Glad to be here.
Why should Biden pardon ConOld, when ConOld stated he could shoot Biden on the front lawn? ConOld does not need a pardon now, he just pardoned himself by winning the election, which seems a lot odd at that.
Asha
Very disappointed in your suggestion to pardon Trump.
After Jan 6, stealing documents, how he treated Biden, journalists
And the incredible crimes he committed against the country,
Let’s give him a pass AGAIN, let’s reward him and appease him
Which will do nothing to unify the country. THAT is ABUSE of the
Pardon!
Definitely disagree on a pardon for Trump. You are suggesting that he should be pardoned for stealing highly sensitive documents, perhaps disclosing that information to adversaries, for inciting an insurrection ( a coup) against the United States in violation of his oath? The pardon power was created to show mercy in the face of injustice. None of these prosecutions were unjust. In fact by using the justice system itself, Trump benefited greatly by delaying these prosecutions and let's not forget the assistance of a SCOTUS, which granted the executive absolute immunity, and caused further delay. This is the benefit of real privilege. He has escaped justice - thanks mainly to SCOTUS, but this does not mean he should be pardoned. His actions are historic fact , by pardoning him Biden would be muddying the waters with the implication that somehow the prosecutors were unjust, at fault even. Let's not try to rewrite history here. This period should live on in infamy.
I find it difficult to conceive of a situation where the decision to pardon Trump for his actions in fomenting insurrection and his unlawful retention of secret government information would prompt him to accept that his actions were criminal. He would most likely take clemency as proof that he was the subject of a Witch Hunt and encourage him to pardon his co-conspirators and those accused and imprisoned in the Jan 6 events.
He’s going to pardon those people anyway
Clemency towards MAGAs was the start to the failure of prosecuting insurrection leaders, using it to end prosecution would make injustice final.
This injustice needs to stand forever to shame the instigators (who may not have shame like Trump) and all who went along. The US is still fighting the civil war because slave p owners were allowed to retake their positions in society, the same is happening now with insurrectionists.
During my seven year stint as an associate pastor in a relatively fundamentalist church I frequently dealt with church members so wrapped up in pietism that their spiritual life was oppressive for them and those around them. I would urge them to contemplate Micah 6:8, which said God considers three things good and expects those three things from us. To do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Some would react with, “Just three things? That’s easy!” No it’s not, because doing those things require you to put that checklist against your every thought and action.
Balancing justice against mercy is a tough one, but the key is we’re told to do justice, not to love doing it, but we are told to love mercy, toward ourselves and others. In law enforcement you see a lot that doesn’t move you to be merciful. But we’re to prioritize that humanity over vengeance, punishment and recompense for evil done to ourselves and others.
And no accident the final expectation is we maintain our humility. I see no way to fulfill the first two requirements unless we remain humble about our ability to judge what is just and merciful and how to balance the calls we have to make.
I’m no longer a believer in any sense, but that verse continues to guide my life, because life without justice and mercy isn’t a life I think is worth living, and I’m humble enough to know that even if I no longer think a deity spoke those words to Micah, they’re good words, and better than anything I have to offer as a guide to life.
UnitedHealthcare and Hannah Arendt's concept of modern evil.
https://open.substack.com/pub/christineaxsmith/p/deny-defend-depose?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=j36hb
..<><> .. enjoyed Your video Ms.Asha ...
Your description of the history of the FBI an it's independent way of (serving) the DOJ and the qualifications needed to be FBI Director certainly makes Mr.Patel an "infinite outlier"!
May I say Ms.Asha i completely disagree with Ur' suggestion (opinion)
that President Joe Biden should .... Pardon President elect Trump....what message would that send to the "Youth of this Country"and historically to the the fabric of Our Rule of Law....that " NOBODY is above the LAW!!!" 4 years goes by pretty quickly and the "statues of limitations" i expect won't (expire) no one should be allowed to plan a "coup" or obstruct the Law by refusing to turn over "Top Secret Information" he stole when flying off from the White House....." Professor Rangappa. @AshaRangappa
wAc
@CrowBwell9
Although various celebrity former federal prosecutors have claimed that Hunter Biden would never have been singled out for prosecution when they were in power, this is absolutely and demonstrably false; statements made for public consumption which could not be made with a straight face in a room full of AUSAs and criminal defense counsel.
The amount of tax fraud committed by Hunter Biden well exceeds unpublished but very real declination limits. People are in prison today who evaded far less tax.
This can be said of the gun offense as well. It is likely that he would have received probation—but a pass—not a chance.
His addiction is mitigation, nothing else. Our jails and prisons are full of people who would not have violated the law had it not been for their drug abuse.
You can disagree with my opinion that the pardon was a naked abuse of power on behalf of the privileged scion of the most powerful man in the nation BUT your assertion that Hunter Biden would never have been indicted but for the fact of who he is, turns reality on its head. Hunter Biden was pardoned only because his father possesses the absolute power to do what no other father in the nation has the power to do.
I would like your take (and support for) on President's promise to commute all federal and military death sentences, etc. Why is he taking so long to say yes or no? I am a retired public defender capital case trial attorney in the 1980s New Orleans area.