Highly unlikely. There would be a public record of the pardon taking place. The order has to be signed and entered into the record by the current sitting president at the time the pardon is issued. Just like any other exec order those are open to press and not done in secret.
That's the usual way. Bet the secret envelope method is still legal. I did hear that if it does not become public knowledge by Monday, tomorrow it probably did not happen.
Is that "Bet" or But? The secret envelope could not fly since it has to be an exec order. It would have been known instantly since it has to be witnessed just like any other exec order. Both Republicans and Democrats would have been present. Someone would have made it known as soon as it happened. the press was there when Trump signed his orders and each one was announced as they were signed. The order has to be recorded ad filed the same day so even if it had been done in the dark it would have been found rather quickly.
Where does it say in the Constitution that a pardon must be an "executive order"? If legal, this is a good deal in that it is secret until and if needed. Concealed carry. If nothing else, it would make for a good plot twist in the coming movie about this recent time in history. UK odds makers were 15/1 that a pardon would indeed be made. Wonder if they have paid off yet ?
Obama hates Hillary. By not pardoning her he leaves another landmine for Trump. If they pursue the activities of her and her inner circle the odds are that a legitimate and honest AG would come the the conclusion that an indictment is appropriate. The backlash by libs and progressives if that happens can only help the loony left and hurt Trump in the press. Obama wins. Delegitimizing and undermining Trump is what those people live for. If that doesn't happen the possibility hangs over Hillary and makes her skittish. Obama wins.
According to the news (I forget which main stream media it was - probably Fox), yes, a pardon can be issued for future charges of past crimes. But, I don't know how accurately they researched it.
Yes a pardon can be issued for a crime or crimes that may have been committed in advance of even being disclosed or investigated. There must be some indication of guilt the person receiving it is willing to covertly admit to. They can still publicly deny any wrong doing but it is assumed that by accepting such pardon there must have been some reason. All presidential pardons are a matter of the sitting president signing an executive order placing the pardon in effect. All executive orders are public record.
Seeing her prosecuted and convicted would be very satisfying. Knowing she is now completely irrelevant is almost as good. Picturing her angrily raving on election night - priceless!
The other side of the coin says: Her defense is Obama implicitly ok'ed her server and even communicated with her on it. As President, whatever he says or does with respect to national secrecy issues is golden. His email had to be set up to allow her secret server's messages to pass to/from him. And he used an alias - that probably has some legal implication as well.
Yep! Gerald Ford gave him a pardon before he was charged with a crime. good ol' Tricky Dick got off easy by turning the keys to the White House over to Gerald ford.
The written laws all give the Pres final authority over secrecy issues, clearances, classification, etc
Trump made a huge deal about Hillary being corrupt and breaking federal law regarding her e-mail server and deleting evidence during an ongoing investigation. He promised to take a second look at prosecuting her, as the Obama administration's FBI could not be trusted, and the OBama Justice Department could not be trusted either. SO I EXPECT TRUMP to keep his word. Not necessarily to prosecute her, but at least to take a fresh look at the evidence AND the law, and the history of how our government has dealt with other people who did the same kind of things Hillary did. She deserves no special treatment. Especially now that it can't ruin her chances of being the first "WOMAN" President (a thought that makes liberals squeal with delight and pee themselves a little). TRUMP, keep your word. You said it, we elected you based on that, now DO IT. And if the evidence, or the law, or the prior history of other cases simply doesn't support a criminal prosecution, then SAY SO. PUblicly. And close the case and call it a done deal.
A president backpedaling on things they promised during their campaign? Say it ain't so! I truly hope people weren't so naive to yet again blindly accept things promised during the campaigning.
So far he's doing more of what he said he would than most had any reason to expect given the past 28 years. I hope he has his AG look at it closely.