LEGISLATION/NEW YORK/PARDONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The New York State Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday [5-21-19] that would allow state prosecutors to pursue charges against any individual granted a presidential pardon for similar federal crimes, closing a loophole that lawmakers said could be exploited by President Trump in a bid to indemnify former associates. The bill, which has already passed the State Senate and has the support of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, would exempt the state’s so-called double jeopardy law from cases involving presidential pardons, something supporters say is necessary to stave off a possible abuse of Mr. Trump’s pardon power. On Wednesday, the Legislature — controlled by Democrats — is expected to pass a separate bill that would allow three congressional committees to seek Mr. Trump’s state tax returns; that bill also has the support of Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat in his third term. The legislative efforts may prove a viable way to circumvent the White House’s stonewalling of attempts by the House of Representatives to investigate behavior of the Republican president and his subordinates. On Tuesday, Donald F. McGahn II, the former White House counsel, ignored a House subpoena to testify on attempts to obstruct the investigation into Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election.”
–Jesse McKinley, “Albany Closes a Loophole for Trump Pardons. Next Up: His Taxes.,” The New York Times online, May 21, 2019