Can a president pardon him or herself? It's question that has puzzled legal minds for decades, but has never been settled, or even directly addressed by a federal judge. With President Trump facing two federal indictments, and teasing the possibility that he would use the pardon power to insulate himself from criminal liability if elected president, the question has reentered the public sphere with a vengeance. But what does the law actually say? What are the arguments for and against allowing self pardons? And what does the debate say about how political leaders should approach this delicate moment in history? Jess and Bobby discuss all of these questions and more with Brian Kalt, a leading constitutional scholar and professor of law at Michigan State University.
Can a president pardon him or herself? It's question that has puzzled legal minds for decades, but has never been settled, or even directly addressed by a federal judge. With President Trump facing two federal indictments, and teasing the possibility that he would use the pardon power to insulate himself from criminal liability if elected president, the question has reentered the public sphere with a vengeance. But what does the law actually say? What are the arguments for and against allowing self pardons? And what does the debate say about how political leaders should approach this delicate moment in history? Jess and Bobby discuss all of these questions and more with Brian Kalt, a leading constitutional scholar and professor of law at Michigan State University.