Ford pardoned Nixon because presidents do not have immunity

Jan. 12 -- To the Editor:

It will certainly be fascinating when Trump's claim that, for any actions as President he was immune from criminal prosecution, arrives on the Supreme Court docket.

On Sept. 8, 1974, Gerald Ford granted an “absolute and total” Presidential pardon to Richard Nixon for any crimes he “may” have committed as President. Clearly at that time Constitutional scholars, the Justice Department, Nixon's lawyers, and Ford's legal advisors all believed that a President could be prosecuted for criminal activity conducted while in office.

Accordingly we should all expect a 9-0 unanimous decision by the Supreme Court denying immunity.

Jeffrey D. Thomson, Kittery, Maine