Presidential Pardons?

Question

I'm curious about presidential pardons in light of the Scooter Libby conviction. I've read a little bit about it but I'm not sure about in cases where the person applying for pardon was found guilty. I thought pardons are for those who claim to be innocent (and are may be really innocent). For those who are knowledgeable about these, please advise.

Answer 1

Every President has granted pardons. By custom, this is only done immediately prior to that President's leaving office.

Pardons are granted for many reasons. One reason is simply to put a political issue at rest so the nation can move on (Nixon and Wienberger). Other reasons are that an appeal was made that triggered the President's sympathy.

Sometime the pardon is a straight political deal. An example of this was Clinton's pardon of people convicted of financial fraud in return for the political endorsement of his wife in her Senate campaign.

Answer 2

Remember that Republican President Ford pardoned Republican President Nixon after Nixon resigned the presidency. I believe that a few years after that a law was passed that anyone who accepted a pardon admitted guilt.
Upon taking office, Republican President George H. Bush pardoned Casper Weinberger; who was involved in the Iran Contra scandel during Republican President Ronald Reagon's administration.
The Republican Nationalist Party will push for a pardon claiming such nonsense that the trial by jury that found Scooter Libby guilty, should not have taken place.
President George W. Bush is pretty much guaranteed to pardon Scooter Libby.

Answer 3

A President can pardon whomever he or she wishes to pardon. The thought is that the President has enough integrity to pardon people whose guilt is in question, and not, for instance, a serial killer who admitted to the crime. But it's up to the President's discretion.

Answer 4

You won't find many people in prison who admit to being guilty. Presidents can pardon anyone they want.

Answer 5

he is above the law.