Presidential Power Play: can Trump pardon himself if reelected?

A president can pardon federal convictions but not state level ones

Only the governor of New York could pardon him

Trump’s sentence is expected to be light

He could delay his Georgia trial until after he leaves office

Is it even legal?

Can a president in the United States grant their own pardon? Would Trump be able to legally clear his name if he is voted in as president in November of 2024? Join us as we take a look at the legal situation Trump would face if he tries to do so.

Trump is now a convicted felon

Trump is now the first-ever former president who’s a convicted felon after a New York jury found him guilty of 34 counts on May 31^st.

Guilty of falsifying business records

The jury found that Trump falsified business records to cover up a “hush money” payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Legal questions around his conviction

Nevertheless, he’s still running for office, for the third time, and legal questions have been raised about weather he could still become president, and if he could pardon himself once he gets to the White House.

Can he still become president?

Yes. Trump meets the only three requirements laid out by the US Constitution for presidential candidates which are: To be a natural born citizen, at least 35 years old and to have been a US resident for at least 14 years.

If he wins, could he pardon himself?

So, with nothing standing in his way to win the November election, could he pardon himself if he becomes president? As no president has ever been in that position before, it’s a tough matter, experts say.

A president can pardon federal convictions but not state level ones

While a president can pardon themselves for any federal convictions, they can not do so at state level ones, such as Trump’s conviction in New York.

Only the governor of New York could pardon him

The only person who could pardon him would be the governor of New York, who is “exceedingly unlikely to do that as a Democrat”, Steve Duffy, a jury consultant told ‘The Independent’.

Photo: New York governor Kathy Hochul

Trump’s sentence is expected to be light

However, a sentence in this case, which will be announced in July 11, could be probation or something even lighter like community service, and if he does get jail or prison time he would likely remain free while he appeals, according to USA Today.

Trump faces three other cases

Trump, however, is still facing three other cases, two of them federal: one in Washington, DC over attempts to overturn the 2020 election and one in Florida over his alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Another state level case in Georgia

While Trump could arguably pardon himself for the two federal cases, he faces a third state case in Georgia in connection to his efforts to overturn the 2020 results in that state.

He could delay his Georgia trial until after he leaves office

Like in the New York case, he could not pardon himself in the Georgia one. However, under legal precedents, he would be able to delay his Georgia election interference trial until after he leaves office, USA Today reported.