U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering issuing himself a pardon, perhaps on his last day in office. Is he really allowed to do that? The best answer is simple: No.
Begin with the Constitution¡¯s text, which states that the president ¡°shall have the power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.¡±
You might be tempted to read those words, as some specialists do, to mean that the president¡¯s pardon power is unlimited, with the sole exception of impeachment. If that¡¯s the right interpretation, there would be nothing wrong with self-pardons.
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