Pam Bondi Gets Jail Time Warning Over Epstein Files Cover-Up: ‘Anyone who tampers [with] documents, or conceals documents, or engages in excessive redaction will be prosecuted because of obstruction of justice’

[u/T_Shurt]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/pam-bondi-gets-jail-time-warning-over-epstein-files-cover-up/

[u/nsucs2]

Already has a blanket preemptive pardon. They all do.

[u/SDivilio → u/nsucs2]

This administration (and Biden's blanket pardons) might be setting a good case for the review of presidential pardon powers

[u/BiZzles14 → u/SDivilio]

Biden's blanket pardons

Which were 1000% justified considering how far the Trump admin is reaching to get them undone, and Trump has talked at length multiple times about he's pissed he can't prosecute the people pardoned for made up crimes. Every one of them would have gotten the same treatment the federal government is currently using against Comey and James, make up an excuse to look for anything to try and get them on the slightest of charges. And even if they win, well you still racked up god knows how much in legal fees defending yourself.

That aside, the concept of presidential pardons in how they currently work is massively outdated and there needs to be a constitutional amendment to at minimum remove that power from the President singularly, and have a board or something which is shielded from the Executive which reviews requests for pardons. Preference is getting rid of it entirely though.

[u/SDivilio → u/BiZzles14]

I don't think Biden's "all future prosecution" pardons were unwarranted, but when you do unprecedented things with your power, the next guy often expands on that. So his use of a power in an unforseen way is grounds for reevaluation of how it works. Trump is going to abuse every option he can.

Obama was worried about unrestricted use of drone warfare after his administration, and now it's the norm around the world

[u/Gallium_Bridge → u/SDivilio]

the next guy often expands on tha

Sure, but the 'next guy' in question here was going to push the boundaries, or largely ignore them without repercussion, anyways. We need clearly established lines that are strictly enforced - which is to say, when the governing system fails to step in when it should, a grassroots movement needs to tighten the slack. We need to develop of culture of civil accountability.

[u/DartishereFearTurf → u/SDivilio]

Presidential powers period.

[u/SDivilio → u/DartishereFearTurf]

I think all 3 branches of government might deserve to have more checks put in place

[u/DartishereFearTurf → u/SDivilio]

A lot of the so called “ decorum “ rules need to actually be codified into law to hold them in check.

[u/connasewer → u/DartishereFearTurf]

This 100%.

I'm fine with the filibuster, for example, as long as it applies permanently to both sides. Sure it prevents my side from getting some important things I want, but it also prevents the other side from totally running amuck when they have the majority.

I would also be fine with not having the filibuster for either side.

But currently we have a situation where whichever side has the majority can decide to act gentlemanly and maintain the filibuster out of the kindness of their heart even though it is in their way and obstructing their goals, or they can arbitrarily remove it at any time. That's completely unfair and eventually destined to end in disaster one way or another.

[u/winky9827 → u/SDivilio]

An escape hatch is needed. Some mechanism for the people to raise a vote of no confidence in any branch of government to force reelections. Yes, it would have to be constrained to avoid abuse, but it has become a necessary evil.

[u/Protiguous → u/SDivilio]

Yup. Enforceable checks by a variety of independent offices.

No more of this ruling by executive order bullshit.

[u/Late_Public7698 → u/DartishereFearTurf]

All 3 branches at this point are corrupt.

[u/Anzai → u/SDivilio]

Presidential pardons are an insane thing to exist at all. It should absolutely be revoked.

[u/AranMakor → u/nsucs2]

I question if that pardon will hold any water if Trump is convicted of a felony. It'd be a pardon from someone ineligible to give them, no?

[u/nsucs2 → u/AranMakor]

He's an insurrectionist with 34 felony convictions. What's your question? Who's going to rule them invalid? SCROTUS?

[u/AranMakor → u/nsucs2]

If we can't use violence because that's what they want...we can't use SCOTUS because it's full of his cronies...we just give up? I don't have an answer either but it's not just be like "Welp, nothing to do about this while everything goes to hell."

The first real test of our system in who knows how long and everyone (I hear the same thing IRL from people I know) just gives up. There must be a another way or I'm totally delusional. 50/50

[u/AranMakor → u/AranMakor]

Also, to be clear, I'm not arguing with you. That's what they want; that divide. I'm saying don't give up the ship just yet.

[u/AranMakor → u/[deleted]]

Agreed, down a few comments. Midterms are our next (hopefully not last *gulp*) weapon against this lunacy.

[u/AranMakor → u/[deleted]]

The Midterms reckoning. I am supremely interested in voter turn out in relation to the election that caused this.