Abusing the pardon power is no joke
In the past we have commented in this space on constructive uses of the presidential pardon power, to reduce prison sentences and restore rights. Today we reprint an op ed from Slate.com describing a recent episode allegedly involving its abuse, by Yale Law School Professor Eugene Fidell and CCRC Executive Director Margaret Love. In addition, several bills have recently been introduced in Congress that would enact a statutory substitute for pardon where restoration of rights is concerned. We will be following these bills closely, and commenting on them here from time to time.
Trump’s DHS Pardon Promise Is As Serious As Anything in the Mueller Report
By EUGENE R. FIDELL and MARGARET COLGATE LOVE
APRIL 24, 2019 6:00 PM
The week since the release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report has felt like a whirlwind, with Congress considering how next to approach the unresolved questions raised about the conduct of Donald Trump and his administration, and the nation bracing for a potentially historic subpoena fight. At the same time, news around the Mueller report has overtaken news of another possible abuse of power by this president—allegations that Trump promised to pardon an official if he broke the law at the president’s request. While the episode has been written off by some as a joke, it is no such thing: Congress has an obligation to investigate these allegations as much as anything in the Mueller report.