Discussion»Statements»Rosie's Corner» I s'pose it's legal. Can a criminal pardoned by a prez run for political office? Who would vote for tainted/tarnished goods and why?
Apparently so, after a quick perusal of "executive clemency" on the internet.
Apparently it's a defined status concept---Trump fits my definition of a criminal in any meaningful sense of the word and yet he was elected (albeit by the minority) and was able to carry the electoral college.
Except I'd take Forrest Gump over doofus don any day of the week and gladly! He had a good heart, good intentions and amazingly pulled off some extraordinary things during his life even though his intellectual acuity was quite limited. He fathered a brilliant little boy. He saved his Sergeant's life. He left good tracks. He started a shrimp company. He participated in some of the great historic moments of our lives. If he were in the configuration of Tom Hanks all the better. I bet you agree tom. Forrest Gump looks awfully good to me right now. Thank you for your reply and Happy Wednesday! :)
This post was edited by RosieG at January 10, 2018 11:26 AM MST
I can't speak to whether it remains on his criminal record (I simply don't know); but even if it does, essentially the practical result of a pardon is that it restores all the rights a person had before his conviction---and thus allows a person to run for and hold an office if elected.
tom jackson 