Donald Trump will probably finish out this term, although those odds have dropped significantly in the past week. But what would happen if he actually left office? One of the main legacies would be that Mike Pence would face a horrible choice over whether to pardon Trump.
Let’s just imagine a scenario in which Trump resigns or is removed from office within the next few months. If this happens, Mike Pence automatically ascends to the presidency. He likely becomes the Republican nominee for president in 2020 (although this is not a guarantee).
And he then faces a choice: whether to pardon Donald Trump for any federal crimes. CONT.
Seth Masket (U. of Denver), Mischiefs of Faction