To the Editor:
Re “Trump Said to Discuss Pardons for His Children and Giuliani” (front page, Dec. 2):
Presidential pardons are in the spotlight in this lame-duck presidency. Will the president pardon Rudy Giuliani? Will he pardon Paul Manafort? What about Don Jr. and Eric? Ivanka and Jared? Even if the president insists that there is nothing to pardon in this group, he will probably do it just in case.
But it is of little concern if he does indeed pardon these people. They are all just functionaries of this corrupt president, enriching themselves at government expense. Garden-variety corruption.
The corruption that is most serious and that cannot be pardoned because there is no law against it is the destruction of civility, the destruction of trust, the ripping of the very fabric of our country, and the complicity of those in our government who created and continue to support this evil.
John T. Dillon
West Caldwell, N.J.
To the Editor:
As President Trump has issued a pardon to Michael Flynn, and now appears ready to issue numerous other pardons to those who committed crimes (or may have committed crimes) while in service to the president, it is clear that the pardon provision of the Constitution must be amended to prevent presidential administrations from becoming crime or corruption syndicates without consequence.
The pardon power should be amended to prohibit a president from issuing a pardon for any crime committed during the period he or she is in office. This limitation would deter the commission of crimes of corruption on behalf of a president with knowledge that any such acts will be followed by a pardon.
In addition, the amendment should prohibit the president from issuing a self-pardon and prohibit any vice president who comes into the office upon the resignation of the president from issuing a pardon.
Daniel Shapiro
Suffern, N.Y.
Source: Read Full Article
Home » Analysis & Comment » Opinion | Time to Rethink Presidential Pardons?
Opinion | Time to Rethink Presidential Pardons?
To the Editor:
Re “Trump Said to Discuss Pardons for His Children and Giuliani” (front page, Dec. 2):
Presidential pardons are in the spotlight in this lame-duck presidency. Will the president pardon Rudy Giuliani? Will he pardon Paul Manafort? What about Don Jr. and Eric? Ivanka and Jared? Even if the president insists that there is nothing to pardon in this group, he will probably do it just in case.
But it is of little concern if he does indeed pardon these people. They are all just functionaries of this corrupt president, enriching themselves at government expense. Garden-variety corruption.
The corruption that is most serious and that cannot be pardoned because there is no law against it is the destruction of civility, the destruction of trust, the ripping of the very fabric of our country, and the complicity of those in our government who created and continue to support this evil.
John T. Dillon
West Caldwell, N.J.
To the Editor:
As President Trump has issued a pardon to Michael Flynn, and now appears ready to issue numerous other pardons to those who committed crimes (or may have committed crimes) while in service to the president, it is clear that the pardon provision of the Constitution must be amended to prevent presidential administrations from becoming crime or corruption syndicates without consequence.
The pardon power should be amended to prohibit a president from issuing a pardon for any crime committed during the period he or she is in office. This limitation would deter the commission of crimes of corruption on behalf of a president with knowledge that any such acts will be followed by a pardon.
In addition, the amendment should prohibit the president from issuing a self-pardon and prohibit any vice president who comes into the office upon the resignation of the president from issuing a pardon.
Daniel Shapiro
Suffern, N.Y.
Source: Read Full Article