If a U.S. citizen conspires to have another U.S. citizen murdered but the actual killing takes place in a foreign country, can the accessory to the murder be pardoned by the President?
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7If the person is being charged under foreign law, the President has no power to pardon that person under those laws.– Ron BeyerNov 27, 2018 at 18:15
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1@RonBeyer as the answer below indicates, the same is true if the person is being charged under US state law. Jon Allen: welcome to the site, please accept the answer by clicking the check mark below the voting buttons.– phoogNov 28, 2018 at 22:47
1 Answer
He can, to the extent that there is a federal charge involved. There is no limit to the power to "grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States", but there is no power to grant reprieve or pardon against a US state or foreign country.
In other words, a presidential pardon would prevent the person from being tried or punished by the US federal government. It would not prevent them from being tried or punished by a state or foreign government.
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8In other words, a presidential pardon would prevent the person from being tried or punished by the US federal government. It would not prevent them from being tried or punished by a state or foreign government. Nov 27, 2018 at 23:38