A measure giving Congress the power to block Trump pardons draws Republican backing

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: msn/Axios

7h


A proposed Constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to block presidential pardons gained its first House Republican co-sponsor on Monday.

Why it matters: It's a rare display of GOP defiance against President Trump, whose pardons have been the subject of bipartisan backlash in several cases.

The president began his second term by pardoning thousands of Jan. 6 defendants, including many who were charged with assaulting law enforcement during the 2021 Capitol riot.

He has since granted clemency or pardons to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), Ozy Media CEO Carlos Watson, Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and cryptocurrency mogul Changpeng "CZ" Zhao.

Most recently, Trump pardoned five former NFL players who were convicted of financial and drug-related crimes.

Driving the news: Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), who is leading the amendment, announced Monday that Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) has signed on as the first Republican co-sponsor of the Pardon Integrity Act.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/a-measure-giving-congress-the-power-to-block-trump-pardons-draws-republican-backing/ar-AA1WsJCF

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They need to do something - even like this "starting the process" (which is long and drawn out) because we are seeing the total abuse of that privilege.

[msongs]

1. bacon is on the way out the door. suddenly he has found a spine lol nt

[Raven123]

2. Nope. Bad idea. Congress should not be involved with Pardons

Yes, we need to limit the pardon power via a Constitutional Amendment, but involving Congress makes no sense to me.

I heard of one suggestion that Presidents be allotted a specified maximum number of pardons. That would force them to think hard. Also specifically prohibit self pardons.

[Doodley]

5. This is to stop Trump using pardon power to hide his own criminality.

[eggplant]

12. Can't possibly be ratified in time.

[Ilsa]

13. There'll be huge bidding wars for pardons. Only the

ultra-wealthy will get them.

[Raven123]

17. Good point. Maybe just eliminate the pardon power

[Bluestocking]

3. Here's an idea

Impeach the fucker

[BumRushDaShow]

6. "Here's an idea Impeach the fucker"

He's been impeached TWICE.

2019



2021



But that only works if you get 2/3rds of the Senate to convict and remove.

[Bluestocking]

7. Actually removing him is easier than a constitutional amendment

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Not really

Both require a 2/3rds majority in Congress - in the Senate, 2/3rds needed for an Impeachment conviction AND in BOTH chambers 2/3rds each for a Constitutional Amendment (unless you go the 3/4s of the state legislatures route for the Amendment).

[Doodley]

4. Trump will pardon Ghislaine Maxwell as payment for her silence. She's already been moved to a resort prison. This is

why this bill is needed. Trump is using pardon power to hide his own corruption.

[mopinko]

8. how about charging him for taking bribes?

j6ers aside, he’s clearly selling them. clearly bribery.

[Escape]

10. No president or governor..

should have pardon power, on their own. There should be a very, very specific set of rules and all pardon decisions should have input and final approval by an unbiased board, panel or judge.

Every pardon ever issued in the past should be reviewed by that same board... with the possibility of it being overturned.

Trump has destroyed the validity of our pardon system.. It will have to be repaired or replaced.

It is currently undemocratic and illegal.

[70sEraVet]

11. When the President is a convicted felon,

It seems ridiculous for him to have the power to pardon his criminal associates.
You may as well grant him complete immunity for his crimes. Oh, we already went there, didn't we?

[ToxMarz]

14. Best idea would be that people would elect President's and congress people

with honor and integrity. People who uphold the Constitution, and strive to make a nation of, by and for the people. With liberty and justice for. But clearly that ain't fucking happening either.

[nuxvomica]

15. The Constitution already bans him from office

So why would we think changing the Constitution is a solution?

[IbogaProject]

16. There should be a law until we amend the Constitution.

The law should make it illegal for the President to pardon anyone he personally knows and make it a violation of the emoluments clause for anyone connected to him along with himself to take anything of value in relation to a pardon. I know this is a long shot, but there needs to be limits on how he has used his power in this instance.

[Martin68]

18. It's about fucking time! Pardoning insurrectionists, people who have defrauded clients for millions, anyone who pays him

enough money. Will Republicans draw a line?