Analysis

ABC News

Trump declared himself America's 'chief law enforcement officer'. This week showed why he's right

If Donald Trump decides to free Roger Stone, his act of seemingly random kindness in pardoning a slew of criminals will look more like a smokescreen than a coincidence, writes David Lipson.

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I googled "is US President chief law enforcement officer".  It seems it all derives from ones understanding of Article II of the Constitution. There is so much opinion written on this, past case law, "expert" opinion, etc., that there was no way I could distill it all and present it here.  If you agree with the article you posted, you'll find opinion to support it.  If you agree with Trump, you'll find opinion to support him, and both opinions are formed from the wording of Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.  It gets even muddier when the Vesting Clause is invoked.  As far as I can tell, whether or not one believes the President is the US Chief Enforcement Officer depends on ones political point of view and how one interprets the words of Article II, Sections 2 and 3 and the Vesting Clause.

Even your post says "Constitutional experts say the President is technically correct."

Sorry if this is muddled.  My head got muddled just trying to understand what I was reading.  Try it if you dare.

The Powers of the President

According to Article II of the Constitution the President has the following powers:

• Serve as commander in chief of the armed forces
• Commission officers of the armed forces
• Grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses (except impeachment)
• Convene Congress in special sessions
• Receive ambassadors
• Take care that the laws be faithfully executed
• Wield the "executive power"
• Appoint Cabinet officials, White House staff and Supreme Court justices

I think the problem comes from the utter vagueness that is "Wield the executive power".

Wield it how? And what exactly is that power?

In the hands of someone who has had so much power as an executive, it could literally mean anything to Trump.

But yeah, he can grant all the reprieves and pardons he wants!

The Founding Fathers of the Constitution never expected a wannabe monarch in the future. Almost had one with FDR but it was "fixed" with the 22nd Amendment.

Probably that could explain the vagueness.