Trump's Purest Form of Power: The Pardon

1,278 Views | 29 Replies | Last: 28 days ago by wifeisafurd
bearister
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
7:11a, 12/2/25
He pardoned Hernandez

"President Trump has embraced clemency as an expression of raw political power, seizing on a unique authority designed to go unchecked by Congress, the Constitution or the courts, Axios' Zachary Basu writes.

Why it matters: No presidential power is more absolute than the pardon. And no president has wielded it more openly as a tool of personal and ideological loyalty than Donald Trump.

Zoom in: Trump's extraordinary move to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez convicted last year of flooding the U.S. with tons of cocaine is among the clearest examples yet.

Prosecutors said Hernandez, who led Honduras from 2014 to 2022, conspired with cartels to pave a "cocaine superhighway" into the U.S. posing as an anti-drug conservative while running his country like a narco state.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a "clear Biden over-prosecution."

Between the lines: The Hernandez pardon fits squarely within Trump's view of justice serious criminal conduct matters far less than whether the defendant pledges loyalty, flatters the president or aligns with his ideological project.

While the right-wing Hernandez walks free from his 45-year prison sentence, left-wing Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro indicted on charges of narcoterrorism faces the threat of a U.S. military invasion.

Zoom out: The dynamic extends to Trump's domestic orbit, where MAGA-friendly financiers, operatives and celebrity allies have had their convictions wiped away with the stroke of Trump's pen.

Changpeng Zhao ("CZ"): The billionaire founder of crypto giant Binance was pardoned despite pleading guilty in 2023 to money laundering violations. Trump whose family's crypto venture has ties to Binance later claimed he did not know CZ, saying on "60 Minutes": "I heard it was a Biden witch hunt."

George Santos: The disgraced former GOP congressman convicted of defrauding donors and lying to the House had his seven-year sentence commuted by Trump after spending less than three months in prison.

Paul Walczak: Trump pardoned the former nursing home executive, who pleaded guilty to tax crimes, less than three weeks after his mother attended a $1 million-per-person fundraising dinner at Mar-a-Lago. A White House official claimed Walczak was "targeted by the Biden administration over his family's conservative politics."

Fake electors: Trump granted sweeping pardons to Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows and more than 70 other allies tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including the "alternate electors" scheme."
Axios

*In light of the absolute power Trump wields, I'm confused why he wouldn't own and truly relish the fact that he is pardoning real criminals instead of labeling them "Biden set-ups."

* With regard to possible motive for Hernandez pardon:

https://bearinsider.com/forums/6/topics/124031/replies/2602946

Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside

“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
Reply Quote
3
3 edits
DiabloWags
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to bearister • 7:54a, 12/2/25
The Maggots don't say a "peep" when Trump pardons powerful Drug Lords like Hernandez.

The ex-Honduran president had been sentenced to 45 years in prison for helping traffickers move hundreds of TONS of cocaine.

MAGA!

Rent Free Living in Domes 24/7/52
Reply Quote
4
1 edit
bearister
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DiabloWags • 8:00a, 12/2/25
Convicted by a unanimous jury.
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside

“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
Reply Quote
4
SBGold
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:00a, 12/2/25
Wait wait it was an overzealous prosecution. Biden was to too hard on foreign drug criminals. Drug cartels aren't bad. Venezuelan drug and fishing boats are not a problem. Oh wait

UNITY OVER DIVISION

VOTE BLUE

Go Bears Forever
Reply Quote
3
concordtom
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to bearister • 9:03a, 12/2/25
bearister said:
Convicted by a unanimous jury.
and that was the important qualifier for Bearly school teacher.
Reply Quote
3
concordtom
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:04a, 12/2/25
A pardon won't do Trump any good when he's DEAD.
Reply Quote
2
SBGold
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to concordtom • 9:25a, 12/2/25
concordtom said:
bearister said:
Convicted by a unanimous jury.

and that was the important qualifier for Bearly school teacher.

LOL, this wins the internet today
Reply Quote
5
bearister
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
9:33a, 12/2/25
Emil Bove was a lead prosecutor in the U.S. government's case against Juan Orlando Hernndez's brother, Antonio "Tony" Hernndez, and was part of the team that built the case against the former president himself

*So one of Trump's Igors was part of Biden's plan to set up these innocent gentlemen.


"I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see."
-Emil Bove

Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside

“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
Reply Quote
3
2 edits
Aunburdened
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to bearister • 12:16p, 12/14/25
Whoops!




Reply Quote
3
BearlySane88
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to SBGold • 12:32p, 12/14/25
SBGold said:
concordtom said:
bearister said:
Convicted by a unanimous jury.

and that was the important qualifier for Bearly school teacher.

LOL, this wins the internet today


I've made no comment on this case so another situation where the left is making things up
Reply Quote
4
concordtom
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to bearister • 5:07a, 12/15/25
bearister said:
Trump's Purest Form of Power: The Pardon


I should think Commander In Chief is more significant.
When he orders people killed, that's the ultimate power.

"I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue…"



They could have covertly accomplished this sinking/murders. But they announced it and released the videos multiple times because they want the world to know they have this power AND THEY USE IT.

And there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it to stop them from using it again.

That's power.

In the words of Trump, next time it could be you.
Reply Quote
1
4 edits
BearlySane88
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to concordtom • 6:23a, 12/15/25
concordtom said:
I should think Commander In Chief is more significant.
When he orders people killed, that's the ultimate power.

"I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue…"

https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2025-09/250903-vessel-usa-ven-rs-e30d35.gif

They could have covertly accomplished this sinking/murders. But they announced it and released the videos multiple times because they want the world to know they have this power AND THEY USE IT.

And there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it to stop them from using it again.

That's power.

In the words of Trump, next time it could be you.


Your fear mongering is at an all time high
Reply Quote
4
cal83dls79
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:17p, 12/15/25
In his recent presser he took a a pardon suggestion from the press corps of some crypto bro thief who is in prison. He looked over and said "Pam, we should look into this".

And now the DOJ has this distraction. At least we have the priorities set.
Priest of the Patty Hearst Shrine
Reply Quote
1
DiabloWags
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
6:19a, 2/13/26
More felons pardoned by Trump.
This time from the NFL.



Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon.

Trump pardons 5 former NFL players for crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking
Rent Free Living in Domes 24/7/52
Reply Quote
cal83dls79
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DiabloWags • 6:59a, 2/13/26
DiabloWags said:
More felons pardoned by Trump.
This time from the NFL.



Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon.

Trump pardons 5 former NFL players for crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking
while at cal and in the 80's the code word with cal roommates for blow was "Joe Kkecko". Money was tight so needless to say we weren't doing much "kleck". Brown Derby beer budget thankfully
Priest of the Patty Hearst Shrine
Reply Quote
1
1 edit
Anarchistbear
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DiabloWags • 7:03a, 2/13/26
DiabloWags said:
More felons pardoned by Trump.
This time from the NFL.



Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late Billy Cannon.

Trump pardons 5 former NFL players for crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking


Trump knows who his masters are
Reply Quote
1
concordtom
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
10:35a, 2/17/26
Republican Joins With Dems on Constitutional Amendment to Give Congress Power to Reject Trump Pardons

Mon, February 16, 2026

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) signed on Monday to co-sponsor a Democrat-led bill to amend the U.S. Constitution to give Congress oversight of presidential pardons, a measure aimed at pushing back at President Donald Trump's highly controversial use of the presidential pardon power.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) last December and would allow for a minimum of 20 House members and five senators to call for congressional review of a pardon, which would lead to a 60-day deadline for Congress to nullify that pardon with a two-thirds majority vote similar to a veto override.

ADVERTISEMENT

Olszewski announced his bill, the Pardon Integrity Act, in a floor speech listing off some of Trump's most controversial pardons, including a blanket pardon for all January 6th rioters including those who violently attacked police officers.

"None of us should accept it as normal practice that a president, any president, used their executive pardon power to absolve convicted drug kingpins, those found guilty of violently attacking law enforcement officers, and even a money laundering crypto magnate with ties to the president's family business," Olszewski said in his speech, adding:

Yet, this is exactly what President Trump did. On his first day back in office, President Trump pardoned 1,500 people involved in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Since then, he's pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly 90 others. Just recently, he added former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez to that list. Hernandez was serving a 45-year prison sentence for conspiring to smuggle more than 400 tons or 4.5 billion doses of cocaine into the US. Hernandez was also convicted of accepting bribes from violent drug cartel members to fuel his political career, shielding them from prosecution in exchange for their bribes

Olszewski announced Bacon joining his bill, writing, "The Constitution does not give any president the authority to place themselves above the law. I'm proud to have Congressman Bacon join this effort, because safeguarding democracy and upholding justice should never be a partisan issue. When the pardon power is abused to protect criminals and political allies, Congress has a responsibility to act."
Reply Quote
2
bearister
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DiabloWags • 12:00p, 2/17/26
At least Billy was a Raider. I saw him play many times. My Dad had season tickets 1967-1976.*



* Regular-season record of 115-23-6 during that time frame.

*The Raiders regular season record from 2017 through the 2025 season is 56-93.
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside

“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
Reply Quote
1
2 edits
Aunburdened
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to concordtom • 12:34p, 2/17/26
concordtom said:
Republican Joins With Dems on Constitutional Amendment to Give Congress Power to Reject Trump Pardons

Mon, February 16, 2026

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) signed on Monday to co-sponsor a Democrat-led bill to amend the U.S. Constitution to give Congress oversight of presidential pardons, a measure aimed at pushing back at President Donald Trump's highly controversial use of the presidential pardon power.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) last December and would allow for a minimum of 20 House members and five senators to call for congressional review of a pardon, which would lead to a 60-day deadline for Congress to nullify that pardon with a two-thirds majority vote similar to a veto override.

ADVERTISEMENT

Olszewski announced his bill, the Pardon Integrity Act, in a floor speech listing off some of Trump's most controversial pardons, including a blanket pardon for all January 6th rioters including those who violently attacked police officers.

"None of us should accept it as normal practice that a president, any president, used their executive pardon power to absolve convicted drug kingpins, those found guilty of violently attacking law enforcement officers, and even a money laundering crypto magnate with ties to the president's family business," Olszewski said in his speech, adding:

Yet, this is exactly what President Trump did. On his first day back in office, President Trump pardoned 1,500 people involved in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Since then, he's pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly 90 others. Just recently, he added former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez to that list. Hernandez was serving a 45-year prison sentence for conspiring to smuggle more than 400 tons or 4.5 billion doses of cocaine into the US. Hernandez was also convicted of accepting bribes from violent drug cartel members to fuel his political career, shielding them from prosecution in exchange for their bribes

Olszewski announced Bacon joining his bill, writing, "The Constitution does not give any president the authority to place themselves above the law. I'm proud to have Congressman Bacon join this effort, because safeguarding democracy and upholding justice should never be a partisan issue. When the pardon power is abused to protect criminals and political allies, Congress has a responsibility to act."

2/3 is too high of a barrier. The same thing that happens on impeachment trials will happen here and the party in power in the White House will not vote against the President.
Reply Quote
1
concordtom
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Aunburdened • 12:40p, 2/17/26
Aunburdened said:
concordtom said:
Republican Joins With Dems on Constitutional Amendment to Give Congress Power to Reject Trump Pardons

Mon, February 16, 2026

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) signed on Monday to co-sponsor a Democrat-led bill to amend the U.S. Constitution to give Congress oversight of presidential pardons, a measure aimed at pushing back at President Donald Trump's highly controversial use of the presidential pardon power.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-MD) last December and would allow for a minimum of 20 House members and five senators to call for congressional review of a pardon, which would lead to a 60-day deadline for Congress to nullify that pardon with a two-thirds majority vote similar to a veto override.

ADVERTISEMENT

Olszewski announced his bill, the Pardon Integrity Act, in a floor speech listing off some of Trump's most controversial pardons, including a blanket pardon for all January 6th rioters including those who violently attacked police officers.

"None of us should accept it as normal practice that a president, any president, used their executive pardon power to absolve convicted drug kingpins, those found guilty of violently attacking law enforcement officers, and even a money laundering crypto magnate with ties to the president's family business," Olszewski said in his speech, adding:

Yet, this is exactly what President Trump did. On his first day back in office, President Trump pardoned 1,500 people involved in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Since then, he's pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly 90 others. Just recently, he added former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez to that list. Hernandez was serving a 45-year prison sentence for conspiring to smuggle more than 400 tons or 4.5 billion doses of cocaine into the US. Hernandez was also convicted of accepting bribes from violent drug cartel members to fuel his political career, shielding them from prosecution in exchange for their bribes

Olszewski announced Bacon joining his bill, writing, "The Constitution does not give any president the authority to place themselves above the law. I'm proud to have Congressman Bacon join this effort, because safeguarding democracy and upholding justice should never be a partisan issue. When the pardon power is abused to protect criminals and political allies, Congress has a responsibility to act."

2/3 is too high of a barrier. The same thing that happens on impeachment trials will happen here and the party in power in the White House will not vote against the President.


And 51% is too low.

Partisan politics is the problem.

Ranked choice is an option but moreso what is needed is a multiple party system. I don't know how we get there but I think most European nations have that.
Reply Quote
concordtom
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Aunburdened • 1:04p, 2/17/26
Wow,
It's as if YouTube algorithm was watching what I typed here in order to play this interview.

I had never heard of Kate Barr, but she's running as an R in NC in a district that is gerrymandered for R's, though she won't support a Mike Johnson speakership if elected.

She asks questions about our two party system.

https://www.youtube.com/live/_WwKZH7Y7bg?si=ugabVpPqd-WiYdMn




A video is going viral of a congressional candidate in North Carolina admitting she is truly a "progressive" even though she is running as a Republican.

"Are you trying to trick people?" Katie Barr, who is running in North Carolina's 14th Congressional District, was asked on a podcast called "The Hometown Holler."

"If you go on the campaign website, above the fold as they call it, is like, 'I'm not a real Republican.' Like, I am telling people the truth. I knock on a door and say, 'I am running in the Republican primary, but I am not a Republican, I am a progressive,'" Barr responded. "I can't claim a Democrat anymore."


She added that her goal is not "to pull a fast one," claiming she is just "being dead honest with people about what I would do if I win."


(Photo: U.S. House candidate in North Carolina Kate Barr next to the GOP logo of an elephant)

Progressive candidate for the U.S. House in North Carolina, Kate Barr, was pressed on why she is running in the Republican primary during a viral podcast appearance. (Kate Barr Can Win/Getty Images)

On Nov. 6, Barr filed paperwork to challenge incumbent Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C., to represent the state's 14th Congressional District.


Barr states on her website's home page that she is running as a Republican because it's "the only way to kick these corrupt cowards out of office." She claims that Republicans have "rigged the maps" to ensure they will come out victors "every time."

"The general election has already been decided. So - the primary is the only competition for this job," Barr's website explains.


Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C., is being challenged by a progressive candidate running as a Republican in the district's GOP primary.

Barr reiterated that she has been "honest" about who she is and how she plans to govern "from the start" in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Tim Moore is terrible for the voters of district 14," Barr continued. "He's getting rich off of his position while voters struggle. And Tim rigged this district to make sure he'd stay in office despite it all. That's wrong. I'm running so voters have a real choice."

While Barr has faced criticism online over her maneuver, with critics calling the move cheating and describing it as shameful, at least one conservative critic doesn't think it is as big of a deal as some are making it out to be.

"I hate to burst the outrage bubble, but she's not making a big secret out of this. It's her whole schtick, and it's front and center on her campaign website," said Second Amendment activist Cam Edwards, on X, in response to the viral video of Barr.
Reply Quote
1 edit
concordtom
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:13p, 2/17/26
What makes Kate Barr think she can win the Republican primary?


She calculates that since primary turnout is traditionally very low, it only takes a relatively small, motivated group of people showing up to "unseat an incumbent".

Unaffiliated Voters: In North Carolina, unaffiliated votersthe state's largest voting bloccan choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary. Barr is specifically targeting these voters, along with moderate Republicans and even registered Democrats willing to switch affiliations, to join her in the GOP primary.
Reply Quote
1 edit
concordtom
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:16p, 2/17/26



I love it!!!!




Reply Quote
DiabloWags
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
1:37p, 2/17/26
Trump has pardoned a total of 1700 people since he started his second term.
Compared to 237 in his first.

Who knew that pardons could be so lucrative?

'There is no process': Trump insiders admit they can't keep up with the 'chaos' of his pardons
Rent Free Living in Domes 24/7/52
Reply Quote
3
smh
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to DiabloWags • 1:52p, 2/17/26
DiabloWags said:
Trump has pardoned a total of 1700 people since he started his second term.

Injustice.. For Sale (duh)
sighned, not dead yet # funk trunk
Reply Quote
3
1 edit
DiabloWags
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to smh • 2:42p, 2/17/26
smh said:
DiabloWags said:
Trump has pardoned a total of 1700 people since he started his second term.

Injustice.. For Sale (duh)


For Trump, everything is a TRANSACTION.
And those TRANSACTIONS carry a PRICE.

$$$




Rent Free Living in Domes 24/7/52
Reply Quote
4
2 edits
wifeisafurd
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
5:14p, 2/17/26
Ugh. What nonsense.

Pardons or clemency
George W. Bush
20012009
200
Barack Obama
20092017
1,927
Donald Trump
20172021, 2025present
1,700 and rising
Joe Biden
20212025
4,244

For some of the dumber comment:

Pardons are to people convicted of crimes. The Sixth Amendment requires that a jury unanimously agree on a guilty verdict to convict a defendant. Most people should be outraged by recent pardons. I have seen such a horrible use of pardons for personal gain since Bill Clinton, to wit, to list just a few:

  • Almon Glenn Braswell nutritional supplement magnate, convicted of mail fraud and perjury in 1983; pardoned and key Clinton contributor
  • Henry Cisneros Clinton's secretary of housing and urban development. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count for lying to the FBI in 1999 about payments to a mistress and was fined $10,000
  • Roger Clinton, Jr. half-brother of Bill Clinton; pardoned after serving a year in federal prison (198586) for cocaine possession
  • John Deutch Director of Central Intelligence, former Provost and University Professor, MIT. He had agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor for mishandling government secrets on January 19, 2001, but Clinton pardoned him in his last day in office, two days before the Justice Department could file the case against him.
  • Edward Downe, Jr. Clinton contributor and convicted of wire fraud, filing false income tax returns, and securities fraud in 1992; pardoned
  • Rick Hendrick Clinton contributor NASCAR team owner & champion; convicted of mail fraud in 1997; pardoned
  • Susan McDougal business partner with Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton in the failed Whitewater land deal. Guilty of contempt of court, she served her entire sentence starting in 1998 and was then pardoned.
  • Samuel Loring Morison former naval intelligence officer convicted of espionage and theft of government property in 1985; pardoned
  • Marc Rich, Pincus Green huge contributors to Clinton and the Clinton Foundation and business partners; indicted by U.S. Attorney on charges of tax evasion and illegal trading with Iran in 1983 and fled the country that year; pardoned in 2001 after Rich's ex-wife, Denise Eisenberg Rich, made more large donations to the Democratic Party and the Clinton Foundation
  • Dan Rostenkowski former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois, indicted for his role in the Post Office scandal and pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 1996; served his entire 17-month sentence, then pardoned in December 2000.
Bill Clinton's Last Outrage; The President's Defenders Feel Betrayed by His Pardon of Marc Rich
Opinion by E.J. Dionne, Jr., Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, The Brookings Institution, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 6, 2001.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/bill-clintons-last-outrage-the-presidents-defenders-feel-betrayed-by-his-pardon-of-marc-rich/?b=1


Biden made some head scratchers letting off the reprehensible, like the kids for cash judge. Then there was Hunter. His numbers are high because of around 1,500 pardons to those in federal jails for pot related convictions, but he still pardoned a lot of people. Trump's numbers are high due to around 1,500 pardons related to June 6th Capital attack.

Usually there is a lot of animosity towards pardons, because there are bad people being given a break. And Trump is a good example of appropriate outrage. The thing is that the pardon power is controversial and abusive by nature. Whatever you think about use of the pardon power by Clinton, Biden or Trump, it is an often abused power, and they are not the worst. Here is a good academic article using a comparison of Clinton to past Presidents (we still have three more years to wonder about the total level of outrage to Trump's actions):

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/community/culctr/clinton/clinton_pederson.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwixlJK85eGSAxU5ke4BHZyyAtAQFnoECDEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2hIn9JHBEG2YmmNNOrpjAd

For those that don't want to read, prior Presidents were worse.

Presidential pardons for patronage and money has been going on a long time. Don't expect any Constitutional amendment in our lifetimes.



Reply Quote
4
calpoly
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to wifeisafurd • 5:24p, 2/17/26
wifeisafurd said:
Ugh. What nonsense.

Pardons or clemency
George W. Bush
20012009
200
Barack Obama
20092017
1,927
Donald Trump
20172021, 2025present
1,700 and rising
Joe Biden
20212025
4,244

For some of the dumber comment:

Pardons are to people convicted of crimes. The Sixth Amendment requires that a jury unanimously agree on a guilty verdict to convict a defendant. Most people should be outraged by recent pardons. I have seen such a horrible use of pardons for personal gain since Bill Clinton, to wit, to list just a few:

  • Almon Glenn Braswell nutritional supplement magnate, convicted of mail fraud and perjury in 1983; pardoned and key Clinton contributor
  • Henry Cisneros Clinton's secretary of housing and urban development. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count for lying to the FBI in 1999 about payments to a mistress and was fined $10,000
  • Roger Clinton, Jr. half-brother of Bill Clinton; pardoned after serving a year in federal prison (198586) for cocaine possession
  • John Deutch Director of Central Intelligence, former Provost and University Professor, MIT. He had agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor for mishandling government secrets on January 19, 2001, but Clinton pardoned him in his last day in office, two days before the Justice Department could file the case against him.
  • Edward Downe, Jr. Clinton contributor and convicted of wire fraud, filing false income tax returns, and securities fraud in 1992; pardoned
  • Rick Hendrick Clinton contributor NASCAR team owner & champion; convicted of mail fraud in 1997; pardoned
  • Susan McDougal business partner with Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton in the failed Whitewater land deal. Guilty of contempt of court, she served her entire sentence starting in 1998 and was then pardoned.
  • Samuel Loring Morison former naval intelligence officer convicted of espionage and theft of government property in 1985; pardoned
  • Marc Rich, Pincus Green huge contributors to Clinton and the Clinton Foundation and business partners; indicted by U.S. Attorney on charges of tax evasion and illegal trading with Iran in 1983 and fled the country that year; pardoned in 2001 after Rich's ex-wife, Denise Eisenberg Rich, made more large donations to the Democratic Party and the Clinton Foundation
  • Dan Rostenkowski former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois, indicted for his role in the Post Office scandal and pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 1996; served his entire 17-month sentence, then pardoned in December 2000.
Bill Clinton's Last Outrage; The President's Defenders Feel Betrayed by His Pardon of Marc Rich
Opinion by E.J. Dionne, Jr., Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, The Brookings Institution, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 6, 2001.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/bill-clintons-last-outrage-the-presidents-defenders-feel-betrayed-by-his-pardon-of-marc-rich/?b=1


Biden made some head scratchers letting off the reprehensible, like the kids for cash judge. Then there was Hunter. His numbers are high because of around 1,500 pardons to those in federal jails for pot related convictions, but he still pardoned a lot of people. Trump's numbers are high due to around 1,500 pardons related to June 6th Capital attack.

Usually there is a lot of animosity towards pardons, because there are bad people being given a break. And Trump is a good example of appropriate outrage. The thing is that the pardon power is controversial and abusive by nature. Whatever you think about use of the pardon power by Clinton, Biden or Trump, it is an often abused power, and they are not the worst. Here is a good academic article using a comparison of Clinton to past Presidents (we still have three more years to wonder about the total level of outrage to Trump's actions):

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/community/culctr/clinton/clinton_pederson.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwixlJK85eGSAxU5ke4BHZyyAtAQFnoECDEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2hIn9JHBEG2YmmNNOrpjAd

For those that don't want to read, prior Presidents were worse.

Presidential pardons for patronage and money has been going on a long time. Don't expect any Constitutional amendment in our lifetimes.




Hey trump apologist ..show me a president that pardon over 1500 people that tried to over throw our government. I will be waiting for your response.
Reply Quote
4
bearister
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to wifeisafurd • 5:25p, 2/17/26
If I had been POTUS back in the day, I would have pardoned Charles Manson for no other reason than to affirm what an f'ing baller I am.*



*Then I would have secretly dispatched a Tier 1 operator to end him. I would then deliver the eulogy at his memorial service, which would consist solely of my dramatic reading of the lyrics to Revolution Blues.
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside

“I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
Reply Quote
2
2 edits
wifeisafurd
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to calpoly • 8:48p, 2/17/26
calpoly said:
wifeisafurd said:
Ugh. What nonsense.

Pardons or clemency
George W. Bush
20012009
200
Barack Obama
20092017
1,927
Donald Trump
20172021, 2025present
1,700 and rising
Joe Biden
20212025
4,244

For some of the dumber comment:

Pardons are to people convicted of crimes. The Sixth Amendment requires that a jury unanimously agree on a guilty verdict to convict a defendant. Most people should be outraged by recent pardons. I have seen such a horrible use of pardons for personal gain since Bill Clinton, to wit, to list just a few:

  • Almon Glenn Braswell nutritional supplement magnate, convicted of mail fraud and perjury in 1983; pardoned and key Clinton contributor
  • Henry Cisneros Clinton's secretary of housing and urban development. Pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count for lying to the FBI in 1999 about payments to a mistress and was fined $10,000
  • Roger Clinton, Jr. half-brother of Bill Clinton; pardoned after serving a year in federal prison (198586) for cocaine possession
  • John Deutch Director of Central Intelligence, former Provost and University Professor, MIT. He had agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor for mishandling government secrets on January 19, 2001, but Clinton pardoned him in his last day in office, two days before the Justice Department could file the case against him.
  • Edward Downe, Jr. Clinton contributor and convicted of wire fraud, filing false income tax returns, and securities fraud in 1992; pardoned
  • Rick Hendrick Clinton contributor NASCAR team owner & champion; convicted of mail fraud in 1997; pardoned
  • Susan McDougal business partner with Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton in the failed Whitewater land deal. Guilty of contempt of court, she served her entire sentence starting in 1998 and was then pardoned.
  • Samuel Loring Morison former naval intelligence officer convicted of espionage and theft of government property in 1985; pardoned
  • Marc Rich, Pincus Green huge contributors to Clinton and the Clinton Foundation and business partners; indicted by U.S. Attorney on charges of tax evasion and illegal trading with Iran in 1983 and fled the country that year; pardoned in 2001 after Rich's ex-wife, Denise Eisenberg Rich, made more large donations to the Democratic Party and the Clinton Foundation
  • Dan Rostenkowski former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois, indicted for his role in the Post Office scandal and pleaded guilty to mail fraud in 1996; served his entire 17-month sentence, then pardoned in December 2000.
Bill Clinton's Last Outrage; The President's Defenders Feel Betrayed by His Pardon of Marc Rich
Opinion by E.J. Dionne, Jr., Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, The Brookings Institution, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 6, 2001.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/bill-clintons-last-outrage-the-presidents-defenders-feel-betrayed-by-his-pardon-of-marc-rich/?b=1


Biden made some head scratchers letting off the reprehensible, like the kids for cash judge. Then there was Hunter. His numbers are high because of around 1,500 pardons to those in federal jails for pot related convictions, but he still pardoned a lot of people. Trump's numbers are high due to around 1,500 pardons related to June 6th Capital attack.

Usually there is a lot of animosity towards pardons, because there are bad people being given a break. And Trump is a good example of appropriate outrage. The thing is that the pardon power is controversial and abusive by nature. Whatever you think about use of the pardon power by Clinton, Biden or Trump, it is an often abused power, and they are not the worst. Here is a good academic article using a comparison of Clinton to past Presidents (we still have three more years to wonder about the total level of outrage to Trump's actions):

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/community/culctr/clinton/clinton_pederson.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwixlJK85eGSAxU5ke4BHZyyAtAQFnoECDEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2hIn9JHBEG2YmmNNOrpjAd

For those that don't want to read, prior Presidents were worse.

Presidential pardons for patronage and money has been going on a long time. Don't expect any Constitutional amendment in our lifetimes.




Hey trump apologist ..show me a president that pardon over 1500 people that tried to over throw our government. I will be waiting for your response.

Abe Lincoln. Didn't they teach reading comp at CalPoly?
Reply Quote
4
1 edit
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.