By Daniel Nardini
According to the U.S. Constitution, the President has the power to pardon anyone convicted of a crime, reduce their sentence, or reduce the penalties weighed against those convicted of multiple crimes. While it is possible for a president to pardon himself (except in case of impeachment), it is something that has not been done at any time in American history. Could incoming U.S. President-elect Donald Trump actually pardon himself? It looks like he may try even though he was impeached in the U.S. House of Representatives twice. Theoretically the president should pardon people he feels have suffered unnecessarily due to their convictions. Until recently, presidents tried to avoid pardoning friends and family members as that would be seen (correctly) as using presidential pardons for personal use.
It was truly sad to see U.S. President Joe Biden use his presidential pardon power to free his son Hunter Biden. Yes, this should not have been done after Joe Biden promised he would not use his presidential powers to free his son. Democrats may try to excuse this by stating that Trump will use his presidential powers to free thousands of former insurrectionists who were found guilty of attempting to prevent the certification of the election process on January 6, 2021. No, I certainly do not want to see any of these insurrectionists freed—that would send the absolute wrong message that it is OK to overthrow the U.S. government if it is done “in the name of our cause.” I certainly do not want to see Trump pardoning himself. All of this sends the worst possible messages that it is OK to break the law if you have powerful friends and politicians on your side. What is then the point of obeying laws if the rich and powerful can break them but ordinary people are forced to live under the rule of law?
My message to all of this is that two wrongs do not equal one right. What Biden did was wrong on too many levels. It may have been only one person thoroughly guilty of breaking the law, but it was his son and this is a very classic case of nepotism. What about all of the hundreds of thousands of people languishing in local, state and federal jails and prisons for not having the proper licensing for their firearms just like Hunter Biden? Why should Hunter Biden get a pass? Because he is the president’s son? A presidential pardon should be for as much ordinary people who have been in so many ways unjustly punished or excessively punished. This power seems to be evolving into trying to help people well connected or part of the ruling elite. All the rest of us peasants mean little to nothing.
It does not matter what Trump may do, using presidential powers to free people who are your family, friends, cronies and people who have committed heinous crimes deserve NO pardons. I do not have the power to pardon my wife or friends if they commit a felony or a heinous crime. Ordinary people do not have this authority or power, and I am beginning to wonder if presidents should either. If current or future presidents should still keep this power, then there should be an independent committee that has absolute immunity from any and all political parties who can review presidential pardons to see if they meet the criteria of the U.S. Constitution. When this clause was put into the U.S. Constitution, I do not think that the creators of this wonderful document ever imagined that it would be so abused and misused as it is being done so today. The Founding Fathers of this great nation I am sure are spinning in their graves over this.
Personal Use of Presidential Pardons
By Daniel Nardini
It was truly sad to see U.S. President Joe Biden use his presidential pardon power to free his son Hunter Biden. Yes, this should not have been done after Joe Biden promised he would not use his presidential powers to free his son. Democrats may try to excuse this by stating that Trump will use his presidential powers to free thousands of former insurrectionists who were found guilty of attempting to prevent the certification of the election process on January 6, 2021. No, I certainly do not want to see any of these insurrectionists freed—that would send the absolute wrong message that it is OK to overthrow the U.S. government if it is done “in the name of our cause.” I certainly do not want to see Trump pardoning himself. All of this sends the worst possible messages that it is OK to break the law if you have powerful friends and politicians on your side. What is then the point of obeying laws if the rich and powerful can break them but ordinary people are forced to live under the rule of law?
My message to all of this is that two wrongs do not equal one right. What Biden did was wrong on too many levels. It may have been only one person thoroughly guilty of breaking the law, but it was his son and this is a very classic case of nepotism. What about all of the hundreds of thousands of people languishing in local, state and federal jails and prisons for not having the proper licensing for their firearms just like Hunter Biden? Why should Hunter Biden get a pass? Because he is the president’s son? A presidential pardon should be for as much ordinary people who have been in so many ways unjustly punished or excessively punished. This power seems to be evolving into trying to help people well connected or part of the ruling elite. All the rest of us peasants mean little to nothing.
It does not matter what Trump may do, using presidential powers to free people who are your family, friends, cronies and people who have committed heinous crimes deserve NO pardons. I do not have the power to pardon my wife or friends if they commit a felony or a heinous crime. Ordinary people do not have this authority or power, and I am beginning to wonder if presidents should either. If current or future presidents should still keep this power, then there should be an independent committee that has absolute immunity from any and all political parties who can review presidential pardons to see if they meet the criteria of the U.S. Constitution. When this clause was put into the U.S. Constitution, I do not think that the creators of this wonderful document ever imagined that it would be so abused and misused as it is being done so today. The Founding Fathers of this great nation I am sure are spinning in their graves over this.