GOP Lawmaker Joins Democrat-Led Effort to Limit Trump’s Pardon Power

A surprising bipartisan coalition is forming as a GOP lawmaker collaborates with Democrats to propose legislation aimed at curbing the presidential pardon power, particularly in light of former President Trump’s controversial actions.

Do you agree that President Trump’s pardon power needs to be limited?

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The Unexpected Alliance

In a notable shift in political dynamics, a Republican lawmaker has joined forces with Democrats to introduce legislation that seeks to limit the presidential power to grant pardons. Rep Don Bacon signed onto a bill that would establish a congressional review process for pardons.

This initiative has emerged from increasing concerns over the potential misuse of this power by former President Donald Trump, particularly regarding his actions during his term in office.

The bipartisan effort reflects a growing sentiment among some lawmakers that the pardon power, while constitutionally sanctioned, requires clearer limitations to prevent abuse. This move signals a willingness among certain GOP members to distance themselves from Trump’s controversial legacy.

rep don bacon speaking

Discussion

daniel olinger

leave president Trump alone traitor Joe Biden should have been limited since he had no idea of what was going on around him!!!

Rosa peralta

They didn’t limit demented Biden powers

Rob .o

πŸ’―

Kim Loveland

The idiots will never leave him alone, unfortunately too many crazy people with no clue

Squeeky

I know right? they've been fighting him tooth and nail on everything from day 1. They don't like him because he isn't a politician, but a businessman.

Betty

Trump is giving us all we need to know about the deep state and it ain't good

Squeeky

But you know how it is. Everybody on the left is against Trump. They have been ever since day one they have fought him tooth and nail over everything. They can't stand it that he's a businessman instead of a politician.

Jimmy

Do it if a Dem gets elected!

BF Porter

No one bothered to stop Biden or his auto-pen.

ANDY GLEZ

THEDISGUNTING DOUBLE FACED DEMOCRAT PARASITE PUPPETS, ALLOWED BIDEN TO PARDON EVEN HIS OWN CRACKHEAD SON, AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CRIMINALS IN THEIR PATH TO DEAD-ROAD AFTER HORRIBLE CRIMES THEY COMMITTED, AND NOW THAT IS OUR PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP'S TERM, THEY WANT TO LIMIT HIS POWERS????… FREAKIN DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE-PARASITES….

Squeeky

Yeah and that was even after he said publicly that he wouldn't pardon Hunter the crackhead. Now every time something goes wrong, they always crying Trump did it! when they know good and well it wasn't even him. They don't like that a businessman is running the country instead of a politician.

James A. Reno

Support our President. He seems to be the only
one that will do something for the people. He wants to stop voter fraud and financial fraud. So many of our leaders on the left are on the take. there answer is to raise taxes not to cut wasteful spending. They are out of control and we have a leader that want to return power back to the people.

Charlie

If you limit President Trumps pardon power is that also going limit all presidents pardon power?

Mac

if it does not then you can see that the democrates are a bunch of lying self serving bunch of criminals who should never be allowed into polotics. they have robbrd so much money from the goverment and by extension the people (Ie you and me) and stuffed it into their own pockets and the people who cannot use their brains to see or refuse to see just go right on beliving they can do no wrong allowing them to destroy the country and make it over like a new Russia

Randy Broman

No

Both parties need to try and get something done other than have endless meetings. All they do is give speeches and never get anything done

Darrel G Dunson

Just imagine If Trump didn't have to fight all the corrupt idiots all the time he could have accomplished 3 times what he has so far. Corrupt, commie, leftists would rather destroy our nation to hold Trump back than help him save America. If they just leave him alone he could double his production. People don't deserve to live in America.

D Stone

Not just Trump, but all Presidents. Biden had about 1000 in the last few weeks of his term. That alone is outrageous. Limit an amount per year of term.

FRANK

POLITICS OF BEING IN POLITICS…CORRUPTION!!!

Barbara Wood

You did nothing while Biden or someone used the auto pen and pardoned his whole family from who knows what!

Karen owens

Only if it applies irrevocably to ALL presidents in the future, not subject to any alterations or changes, ever.

Terry D. Stark

What part of Article II, Section 2, first clause (paragraph) of the U. S. Constitution is so clouded that it is not understandable? There is also nothing in this clause permitting Congress, or any other agency of government, the right or authority to limit this power.

J1

REALLY !!! After what that last Auto Pen did .

Judy

No president has ever been limited so President Trump should not be limited!
Washington dems, state dems, and judicial dems are out to destroy America so that their cult of socialist/globalist/communist/marxist/racist can rule America and Americans!!

Paul

There’s a document called the Constitutionβ€”you might consider reading it

Rosemarie

No one limited Obama or Bidenβ€˜s powers so leave Trump the hell alone he’s our president and we want everything. He’s doing get off your high horse and stop your BS. America is tired of the Democrat bullshit.

Phyllis Vincent

DEI is discriminatory. Stop it!

JLP

HELL NO BIDEN'S HANDLERS DID WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO SO LEAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP ALONG!!!

Joanne G

Limiting his power is a excuse to protect criminals. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOVERNMENT JOBS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ABOVE ALL. JUST BECAUSE THEY MAKE THE LAWS DOES NOT GIVE THEM THE PRIVLIDGE TO BREAK THE LAWS.

catherine waas

They never limited any Democrat Presidents power to pardon. The only different is they would do it when their turm was up.

FRANK

STOP WASTING OUR TIME WITH THIS MEANINLESS BULL CRAP. NOW YOU SEE HOW EVERY DEMONCRAT IS LIVID BECAUSE THEY WERE CAUGHT RIPPING OFF THE AMERICAN TAX PAYERS. WANT TO SEE JAIL TIME.

Bill Babbitt

When a crime is committed, and the perpetrator is punished, that punishment must be served in its entirety. Otherwise, what is the point of punishing any crime?
Only God can actually pardon a crime.

Leslie Seaboyer

President Trump is functioning within his scope of constitutional authority. He does not need to be restricted in any way, shape or form other than as the constitution dictates

Brooke the elder

Where was this β€œcongressional concern β€œ while Joe Biden was in office?

Timothy Crater

yeah now tha the democrats do not control it of course they want to limit. Just shows how crooked the poloticians are if it dose not woprk for them and help them they want to keep their oppionents from using the powers that that were use by a demented opponent that was just a figurehead for the eir demented democratic party

David Breard

For 12 years the democratic presidents did have their powers reduced. If they did,perhaps the country would be in a better financial state. Politicians that go to Washington and stay there are a big part of the problem.

DEBORAH

I AM SO DAMN SICK AN TIRED OF CORRUPT CRIMINAL DEMONIC DOMESTIC DEMOCRAPS TRYING TO STOP WHATEVER PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES..DUMBASS BIDEN HAD NO CLUE WHAT DAY IT WAS BUT HE PARDONED OVER 8000 MURDERS & RASPIST…YA'LL LET HIM RUN A MUCK..LEAVE GREAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ALONE..PRESIDENT IS FIXING EVERYTHING STUPID BIDEN/OBUMMER "F-D" UP…STOP NOW.. LEAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP ALONE SO HE CAN WORK..

None

I voted for Trump, yes his Pardon power should be limited, he has proven to be as bad as the other presidents when it comes to the Epstein files and letting the FBI lie to us about Charlie Kirk

RowZ

If other presidents' powers weren't limited, the same should be done for President Trump.

Rebecca Brigandi

Why should President Trump have his powers limited when no other president was limited. This power is in the Constitution. Of course it is democrits spearheading this. They have been interfering with everything he does I'll bet that if Trump was a Dem, they would not try to limit his powers. Shame on the RINO who joined in with them.

Debra Campos

Joe Biden's should have been limited since he had no idea of anything going on around him. Trump is the greatest president ever.

Squeeky

None of the Democrat presidents had limited pardoning so President Trump shouldn't either. Biden was so senile that he was only a puppet for Jill and the rest of them.

theodore m tsantis

GET RID OF ALL ILEAGLES all fedural government go on a vaction, and just let all programs run them selfsno more new laws just enforce the ones we have pay off the debt, gaurd the boarders mined are own country forget about other countrys the money we save while your all on vacation an money not going to other country will pay off the debt, P.S.if the dems want ilegals the 30% of there pay should come out of there check an donot get a raise just to payit! IT IS MY MONEY NOT YOURS TO EMBEZE

joel Clary

All presidents need to be under scrutiny over pardons, not just Trump. It has gotten to be a favoritism football getting worse with each president.

Kim Crays

Trump has a Pardon Czar, Alice Johnson. Trump has broken ZERO Laws for any of his pardons – the ONLY Reason why Democrats & RINO’s want to stop him IS because They Know that
iF the Dems Take the House in Midterms Nov 2026 – that the Democrats WILL send GOP to jail thru Congress Inv

Biden Pardoned His Son, All Family Members, Democrat Politicians For CRIMES that they ALL were involved in – and PROVEABLE & FACTS ARE KNOWN before they EVER be investigated & now they can’t be charged EVER

Robert MacFall

I believe that the Presidential Pardon ability should be looked at for revision because of abuses from both parties. I do believe that a President should not be able to pardon members of his/her own family and/or himself/herself.

Anne Marie Duffy

Although unchecked there is a possibility for abuse by a president, if pardon power is subject to review by Congress, it is no power at all, because Congress will hijack it for political purposes.

Connie Brooks

This should have been applied to Joe Biden when he was pretending to be in office. President Trump has integrity.

William Herman

no other president was limited not even joe biden

Peter Hansen Sr

Limiting a President Pardon power should only happen if, God forbid, a democrat wins the Presidency!

Keith Leonard

The Bill is a lame political tool to embarrass the President and a power grab by Congress. Moreover, it is mean spirited and satisfies a lust for punishment. We already hold the shameful fact that we have the highest incarceration rate in the world. That fact alone goes against what America is all about.

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Context of the Legislation

The push to limit pardon powers comes amid various investigations into Trump’s actions, including his handling of the January 6th Capitol riots. The fear is that unchecked pardon power could lead to a scenario where individuals involved in serious offenses might evade consequences due to presidential forgiveness.

Historically, the pardon power has been viewed as a tool for mercy and justice. However, Trump’s presidency has raised questions about its potential for misuse, especially when pardons have been granted to individuals with personal connections to the president or those who have publicly supported him.

This context is critical for understanding the motivations behind the new legislation and the perceived need for reform.

Key Takeaways from the Proposal

The proposed legislation outlines specific measures aimed at curtailing the president’s pardon authority. Here are some key aspects:

1. Transparency Requirements: The bill mandates that any pardons issued must be accompanied by a public explanation detailing the rationale behind the decision.

2. Congressional Oversight: The legislation would require congressional approval for certain types of pardons, particularly those involving high-profile cases.

3. Limitations on Self-Pardons: The proposal explicitly addresses the controversial notion of self-pardoning, asserting that no president should have the authority to pardon themselves for criminal conduct.

4. Implementation of a Waiting Period: A waiting period would be established before a pardon can take effect, allowing for public scrutiny and evaluation.

These measures aim to restore faith in the integrity of the pardon process, ensuring it serves justice rather than personal interests.

Implications for Future Presidents

If passed, this legislation could set a significant precedent for how future presidents exercise their pardon powers. It raises questions about accountability and the balance of power within the federal government.

Supporters argue that these changes are necessary to prevent the kind of partisan maneuvering that has characterized recent presidential actions. They believe that reforming the pardon process is essential to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is fairly administered.

On the other hand, critics of the proposal caution that overly restrictive measures could undermine the president’s ability to act in the public interest, potentially denying mercy in cases where it is warranted.

FAQ

What is the main objective of the proposed legislation?

The main objective is to limit the president’s pardon power to prevent potential abuses, particularly in light of former President Trump’s actions.

What are some key features of the bill?

Key features include transparency requirements, congressional oversight, limitations on self-pardons, and the implementation of a waiting period for pardons.

How could this legislation impact future presidents?

If passed, it could establish stricter guidelines for the use of pardon powers, emphasizing accountability and the rule of law.