On 02-15-98, WALTER LUFFMAN declared to ROBERT PLETT:
WL>politicians at all levels -- if the impeachment and trial
WL>are successful, and I'm not convinced the odds are that good.
WL>(He isn't called "Slick Willy" for nothing, after all.)  But
WL>I feel as if the nation has been taking daily beatings for
WL>over five years now; I just want it to stop.
Me too.
WL>Two questions:
WL>  (1) Is there any way we could legally ensure that Gore
WL>would not pardon Clinton, or would any such prior agreement
WL>be unconstitutional?  (I think Gore would sign such an
WL>agreement in exchange for immunity from impeachment and
WL>prosecution on the Templegate money-laundering charges --
WL>but I want more than just his word on it.)
Don't know whether that would be possible or not in a formal sense, but
Congress could sure threaten him in private and assure him of his own
impeachment if he tried.
WL>  (2) If Clinton resigned and was not subsequently pardoned
WL>by his successor, could the federal government then proceed
WL>with ordinary indictment and criminal trial; or would we
WL>still have to use the impeachment route because the
WL>charges involve his actions while in office?
He definitely could be tried in criminal courts, impeached or not.  All
impeachment does is remove him from office and prohibit his occupying
any public office whatsoever in the future.
WL>I ask because this would permit something even better than
WL>impeachment of a sitting President.  We could pressure him
WL>to leave office immediately, and still prosecute him.  But
Yes.
WL>I suspect the answer to both my questions will be "no"; the
WL>recent court ruling on the line-item veto indicates that
WL>constitutional authority cannot be signed away, and the idea
WL>of prosecuting "former Prsident Clinton" is so appealing
WL>there must be a legal impediment *somewhere*.
Nope - he's subject to criminal prosecution.  The only thing that can
get him off the hook if there's cause is a presidential pardon.

WL> RP> Just getting up in the morning has its risks.  If we're unwilling to
WL> RP> accept risk, we might as well resign ourselves to Clinton finishing
WL> RP> out his term of office and getting off scott free.  There will never 
be
WL> RP> a certainty of the votes being there for impeachment, regardless the
WL> RP> evidence - that's something that only comes about thru the 
mpeachment
WL> RP> process itself, the trial wherein the case is made and proven.
WL>Bob, you've won me over.
Egads!  I'm speechless!  
WL>Damn the risks and difficulties --
WL>let's proceed with impeachment proceedings and go all-out for
WL>conviction!  And if Starr has solid evidence against Gore,
WL>let's make it a double-header!
You betcha!  Now all we gotta do is convince them idiots we got in
Congress.  |-)
Bob     /\-/\   - proud Ilk   homebody@galstar.com
C.A.T. ( o o ) Chapter Ilks
       == ^ ==
Green Country - Oklahoma      http://www.galstar.com/~homebody/
 * SLMR 2.1a * Sometimes not knowing it can't be done brings success.
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