Rep. Al Green Statement on Introducing Legislation Preventing the President From Issuing a Self-Pardon

(Press Release) Houston, TX – Congressman Al Green (D-TX09) released the following statement today, on introducing legislation to prevent the President from issuing a self-pardon:

“At the heart of American Jurisprudence is the fundamental premise that “No one is above the law.” This includes the President of the United States of America.

“The presidential power to pardon is the power to forgive for the smallest federal offense to the most egregious federal crime. If this is true, no President should be empowered to self-pardon (forgive himself or herself).

“To allow presidential self-pardons would allow a President guilty of the federal crime of treason against the United States of America to forgive/pardon himself. To allow such would not only place the President above the law, it would make the President his own final judge, jury, and prosecutor. The President would in fact become the law. The United States of America would become a country of laws for all but the President.

“To permit the President to self-pardon would place the President above the law and beyond justice. Love for my country compels me to file legislation to prevent the President from being above the law and beyond justice.”