Eliminating the Presidential Pardon power

[exboyfil]

It is Andrew McCarthy at National Review that is proposing it. It is a good idea, but obviously, the reform doesn't come soon enough for it to stop Trump abusing it. Since you can do anything you want, I would propose that a compromise to remove pardon protections with a look back time that includes the last year of Trump's administration. Normally Ex post facto is wrong, but, given the level of corruption we have seen, it should happen.

Why did Obama issue a pardon to James Cartwright? This article talks about that pardon and cites it as a political pardon. The only other example of "political" Obama pardons were the ones for drug offenders which were compassionate and smart. So smart that one person who was missed, and even a little questionable given the surrounding circumstances, was pardoned by Trump in a real big show basically sticking it in the face of Obama.

https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2021/01/25/repeal-the-pardon-power/

[Firestorm49]

1. I believe that limits need to be implemented and very well defined.

[mitch96]

7. Exactally... limit to, lets say 5 pardons. so pick wisely... Do you have to amend the constitution?

[Wounded Bear]

2. It's a Constitutional issue and would probably require an Amendment...nt

[exboyfil]

3. Yes but after this I think it should have wide bipartisan support

Also consideration of what it takes to remove a President from office, but that will be much harder. It could be abused. It always takes the fucked up moves by Republicans that destroy a system. Al Gore should have fought like this in 2000 (or maybe he shouldn't have), but on one brings that up. Gore should have sent his mob to the Supreme Court (just kidding since he didn't have a mob).

[2naSalit]

11. Maybe after 2022, if we win ore seats in Congress.

[dware]

15. Even if we do win more Senate seats in 2022 and got 2/3rds of the Congress to vote for it,

the Amendment would still need 3/4ths of the states to ratify it, 13 states can block any change to the Constitution.

[2naSalit]

16. True.

That part will require citizens to make it so at that point.

[struggle4progress]

4. I would not eliminate it but might give Congress the power to establish by law

requirements to specify in the pardon the exact acts covered and/or a narrowly limited time period and to clarify that the pardon power does not extend in cases where the pardon might help cover-up a crime by the President

[former9thward]

5. You can find what some would call abuses of pardons by every president.

But no matter. Even if it got through Congress it would take 37 states to change the pardon power in the Constitution. That would never happen.

[exboyfil]

6. You are taking it away from Biden

That should be a strong selling point. They don't act on principle, they act on power.

[marie999]

8. I don't see why the states would mind this amendment.

[former9thward]

18. If the power was taken from the president then next would be governors.

They have the same power and want to keep it. Also if this was seen as partisan, and focusing on Trump it would be seen that way, there would never be 37 states that would go along. The Republicans hold the majority of legislatures.

[marie999]

23. Why the governors? This would be up to each individual state.

[Buckeyeblue]

9. What if congress can override the pardon witha 2/3 vote?

There are more important things I would like to see as an amendment to the constitution.

[exboyfil]

10. I think changing the Pardon power is doable

Those other things aren't (which is an argument for another day because I think our system of government is doomed).

[BGBD]

12. Founding fathers had a lot of foresight

But handing one guy unlimited power to pardon people was idiotic and a serious throwback to the monarch.

[FakeNoose]

13. It's only because of Chump that we need to do this

Will there ever be another Chump?

I sure hope not, but the safeguards need to be established immediately.

[former9thward]

19. Are you really good with the pardons Clinton gave on his last day?

[Happy Hoosier]

14. Limit it, don't eliminate.

Establish conflict of interest limits. Make it clear the President cannot pardon himself. Aloe Congress to override any Pardon.

[MurrayDelph]

20. Himself, his/her immediate family,

and no one work which he had direct business ties.

[Happy Hoosier]

21. +1 NT

[lettucebe]

17. Just needs to be fine tuned. Starting with no one can be pardoned until they have served time

No pardoning in advance. That's pretty ridiculous. This needs to be taken more seriously, and obviously pardoning someone that's involved in your crimes isn't going to be allowed (not sure it's going to be allowed this time either but time will tell).

[986racer]

22. The only reason he is proposing it is because a democrat will be holding the office for a long time