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Originally Posted by Rochard
I don't believe that's possible. You cannot pardon someone until after they have been found guilty.
And even so that wouldn't change much - we would still have to move forward with an investigation. Just because one person gets a pardon or even ten people get a pardon it doesn't mean we just say "no need to find out what really happened".
I think Trump handing out a pardon for any wrong doing would make him look even worse. However, at this point he has the lowest approval rating of any president in recent memory so it might just not matter.
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He can pardon before, during or after. It would be a terrible look though. Only thing he can't do is pardon himself if impeached.
" Accordingly, the Constitution simply provides that the President ''shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment'' (Article II, section 2).
The leading Supreme Court case is Ex parte Garland (1867). Justice Stephen J. Field, writing for the Court in a 5-4 decision, held that the President's pardoning power is ''unlimited,'' and ''It extends to every offense known to the law, and may be exercised at any time after its commission, either before legal proceedings are taken, or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment.'' "
Constitution Allows Pardons Before Conviction - NYTimes.com