Will Pence Pardon Trump?

I don’t believe it. Pence would be committing political suicide. And Trump’s VP still has aspirations to follow his boss into the White House.

Trump is still considering pardoning himself. But that would be pointless. New York is out to get him. A pardon (even if were to pardon himself successfully) wouldn’t prevent that state from prosecuting him.

No. For one thing, Mr. Trump only has clemency power over federal offenses. Some types of offense — like tax evasion and financial fraud — are offenses under both federal and state law. Mr. Trump does not have the authority to prevent state prosecutors from pursuing charges over such a matter. State prosecutors in New York are investigating various matters related to Mr. Trump’s financial dealings.

Moreover, a pardon could increase one type of risk: When a pardon eliminates the possibility that the recipient might be prosecuted for a purely federal crime, it also eliminates the ability of that person to invoke the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in order to avoid testifying about it. Thus, pardon recipients subpoenaed before Congress or a grand jury would be compelled to talk; if they lied or refused to testify, that would be a new crime.