CNN segment fantasizes about Trump and the possibility that he may have to ‘forgive himself’ from a prison cell

CNN anchor Erin Burnett and a former lawyer for Donald Trump spent time fantasizing a scenario in which the former president is forced to pardon himself from a prison cell.

Ty Cobb, a former member of the Trump Administration’s legal team with a hilarious name, has been very vociferous about his view that the Republican nominee will go to jail based on a Justice Department investigation into his possession of classified documents after leave office.

Burnett pressed him on what the future might hold if that were the case, particularly if Trump wins the election.

“What happens, though, if this trial doesn’t conclude before the general election, does Trump win?” Burnett asked. “He just forgives himself and everything goes away?”

“Well, those are strangely, those are possibilities,” Cobb replied. “The sad thing is that nobody knows. This is unprecedented.”

Cobb proceeded to discuss the issue of Trump pardoning himself, which he believes is not allowed, but admits other legal minds disagree.

“The timing is, if there’s already been a verdict in the federal case… one would assume that could have consequences during the election.”

BOOM.

Former Trump White House attorney Ty Cobb predicts Trump will go to jail over the classified documents case. pic.twitter.com/snWGSp2VDE

— Republicans Against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) May 22, 2023

RELATED: Congressman Matt Gaetz: Trump Should Pardon Himself

CNN discusses the possibility of Trump pardoning himself from prison

The next step in the conversation is why it’s so hard to take CNN seriously when they try to present themselves as less partisan under CEO Chris Licht.

Cobb discussed what could happen if Trump’s trial concludes, he is found guilty and sentenced, and all of this happens before the election.

“He does not have the power to pardon himself until he has taken office,” he said. “So if there is a verdict, say, before the November election, sentencing could easily happen before he takes office.”

At this point in the interview, you can see Burnett eager for the prospect, his mouth slightly open, eyebrows raised, head shaking in disbelief.

“And you would have to report to jail,” Cobb added. “So he would be (pardoning) himself apparently under those circumstances from jail.”

Burnett found the setting “absolutely unbelievable” but suggested, “It’s a reality we could be seeing.”

Erin Burnett and Trump’s White House Counsel Discuss Trump Pardons Himself From Prison Scenario: ‘Absolutely Unbelievable’

https://t.co/nFReBMrSMI

—Mike Walker (@New_Narrative) May 24, 2023

RELATED: Hillary Clinton claims Trump ‘rigged’ the 2020 election and predicts the ‘end of democracy’ if he wins in 2024

Can Trump forgive himself?

Congressman Matt Gaetz, following the 2020 presidential election and before Biden’s transition to the White House, advised Trump to pardon himself and key members of his administration before leaving.

In hindsight, I probably should have listened to Gaetz’s advice.

Matt Gaetz: “President Trump should forgive Michael Flynn, he should forgive the Thanksgiving turkey, he should forgive everyone from himself to officials in his administration, even Joe Exotic if necessary!” pic.twitter.com/mEEEqCl9rl

— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 25, 2020

Trump insisted that a pardon would be unnecessary as he “has done nothing wrong.”

Self-forgiveness has been a topic of much debate in the Trump era.

Law scholar Jonathan Turley has argued that, as president, he had a right to do so. EITHER willpower He will have the right if he is re-elected.

“There is no language that specifies who can or cannot be pardoned,” he wrote in a USA Today column. “The president simply has the power to pardon any federal crime.”

“As a matter of text, there is nothing preventing Trump from adding his own name to the list of pardoned persons.”

As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to FORGIVE myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? Meanwhile, the non-stop witch hunt, led by 13 very angry and conflicted Democrats (and others) continues in the midterms!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018

Interestingly, pardons, even in such a scenario, would only apply to federal law; they do not apply to civil, state or local offenses.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced an indictment against the former president earlier this year.

Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, low-level felonies in New York state, but which carry a prison sentence of 4 years each.