Presidential self-pardon via 25th Amendment?

[President Johnson]

Since it's under discussion whether Trump (or any president) could pardon himself in case he gets back into office, couldn't he or any president just get it done via 25th Amendment? Theoretically he could just transfer presidential powers to the vice president for an hour, and since the vice president then has all presidential power, he (or she) could just issue a pardon before powers are returned to the actual occupant of the office.

Thoughts?

[brucejoel99]

Yes, that'd be 100% ok. Trump just didn't trust Pence. He literally refused anesthesia in his colonoscopy to stop a handover.

[Sir Mohamed]

Don't give him ideas...

[President Johnson]

Yes, that'd be 100% ok. Trump just didn't trust Pence. He literally refused anesthesia in his colonoscopy to stop a handover.

Sounds reasonable. I wonder whether someone in Nixon's orbit actually considered it. I guess Ford wouldn't have done that, though Agnew might have. And anyone Trump picks for 2024 would definitely do it if that removed any legal questions over a self-pardon.

[LBJer]

That wouldn't work for the Georgia case, since those are state crimes. Neither the actual nor an acting president can pardon someone for a state crime. 

[KoopaDaQuick 🇵🇸]

I think whether or not Trump is willing to admit guilt so he can get the pardon is actually more up in the air than whether or not a self-pardon like the one OP described is legal in the first place.

[Blue3]

He’d probably try to pardon himself of state crimes, citing the supremacy clause and executive privilege… leading to a Supreme Court showdown.