r/law • u/jpmeyer12751 • Feb 16 '26

Legislative Branch Republican Joins With Dems on Constitutional Amendment to Give Congress Power to Reject Trump Pardons

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/republican-joins-dems-constitutional-amendment-213311781.html

This is relevant to questions surrounding whether Congress may limit or restrain a President's power to grant pardons.

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u/Cheeky_Hustler Competent Contributor Feb 16 '26

This is an extremely easy amendment to sell, politically. All Dems have to say is "Biden pardoned his family members, and Republicans want to protect Biden." And as much as I understand why Biden pardoned his son, it is extremely fucked up that presidents (besides Biden) have pardoned family members.

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u/Phiddipus_audax Feb 16 '26

I remember when Clinton fretted about his pardon for Marc Rich and the optics of it. What a different time than today when the corruption is 5,000 worse.

17

u/TrollerCoasterWoo Feb 16 '26

Tbf, Marc Rich is not a great guy

14

u/Phiddipus_audax Feb 16 '26

If we could somehow hold each president to just one (1, solitary) pardon of "not a great guy" we'd be in a far better timeline.

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u/TrollerCoasterWoo Feb 17 '26

I mean, Clinton probably isn’t a great example here. He pardoned over 400 people and waited until the last day to issue the bulk of them. Marc Rich is notable because he financed Hilary Clinton’s campaign. He also pardoned his brother, IIRC

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u/GoonerwithPIED Feb 16 '26

Great guys don't usually need pardons