Trump said he would consider pre-emptive pardons to protect Elon Musk and other close aides should Democrats take control of Congress

Donald Trump said he would be willing to protect Elon Musk and his staff if Democrats take control of Congress after the midterm elections this week.

In an interview for the “Pod Force One” podcast published Monday, Trump said he would move to “protect” the billionaire SpaceX and Tesla CEO if Congressional investigators targeted him.

Trump also indicated that he was weighing pre-emptive pardons for his close aides and others around him should the Democrats pursue investigations, according to Axios. It is a notion that the president has floated before to keep his team from facing prosecution for actions during the first two years of his term.

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[–] 1 point 1 week ago

Accepting a pardon is admittance of guilt

That's based on the incorrect belief that a bit of dicta in Garland is actually precedential. It's not. And, due to the possibility of general pardons (upheld in the precedential part of the Garland ruling) it's a logical impossibility anyway. If you're pardoned for "any or all crimes committed" during a period of time, what would you be pleading guuilty to? And anyway, there is no step in the pardon process where you are required to admit guilt.

which can be used to force testimony without the 5th amendment protection

That part is true, but not for the reason you cited. They can't plead the fifth for the same reason that people granted immunity can't: because they're not in jeopardy of prosecution for anything they've been pardoned for. But note that they can still plead the fifth to avoid charges for other crimes outside the scope of the pardon.

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