From vetting nominees to navigating Senate committees, the process of appointing leaders in the Executive Branch is both intricate and essential. This week, Elisa Poteat welcomes Erik Swabb, Partner at WilmerHale and former General Counsel of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to demystify the confirmation process. Together, they explore how nominees are evaluated, the authority behind committee reviews, and the strategies that can bypass these traditional norms.

Erik Swabb is a partner in the Defense, National Security and Government Contracts Practice at WilmerHale.

References:

U.S. Constitution, Article II Section 2

This week, Elisa revisits her conversation with longtime former Pardon Attorney, Helen Bollwerk, to unpack the presidential pardoning process. Together, they explore the procedural regulations, judicial precedents, past controversies, and the pressing question of whether a president-elect can pardon himself.

Helen Bollwerk served as a pardon attorney at the Department of Justice for nineteen years.

References:

U.S. Constitution, Art. II, Sec. 2

28 CFR § 1.1 - 1.11

Ex parte Wells, 59 U.S. (18 How.) 307 (1855)

Ex parte Garland, 71 U.S. (4 Wall.) 333 (1866)

Carlesi v. New York, 233 U.S. 51 (1914)

Burdick v. United States, 236 U.S. 79 (1915)

Ex parte Grossman, 267 U.S. 87 (1925)

Hoffa v. Saxbe, 378 F. Supp. 1221 (D.D.C. 1974)

Schick v. Reed, 419 U.S. 256 (1974)

United States v. Noonan, 906 F.2d 952 (3d Cir. 1990)

U.S. Constitution, Art. II, Sec. 2

28 CFR § 1.1 - 1.11

Congressional Report, Justice Undone: Clemency Decisions in the Clinton White House, May 14, 2002. Part One; Part Two; Part Three

Congressional Hearing, Use and Misuse of Presidential Clemency Power for Executive Branch Officials, July 11, 2007

Office of Legal Counsel Presidential or Legislative Pardon of the President (August 5, 1974)

While the U.S. presidential election takes center stage, global events continue to unfold. This week, Elisa delves into the latest national security headlines, covering key takeaways from the BRICS summit, Chinese espionage tactics, a recent data breach exposing millions of Americans' healthcare information, and more.

References:

Upcoming ABA Event: Register for the 34th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law CLE Conference, this November 14th-15th in Washington, DC