Ex-prosecutors and legal scholars say US president ‘meting out pardons for blatantly corrupt and self-serving ends’

Donald Trump’s unprecedented pardoning spree for political and business friends since returning to the White House has prompted warnings from ex-prosecutors and legal scholars of “corrupt” pay-to-play schemes, conflicts of interest and blatant partisanship.

It has included hundreds of Maga allies, a cryptocurrency mogul with ties to a Trump family crypto firm, disgraced politicians, and others who could yield political and financial benefits.

Trump’s political and business driven pardons spurred strong rebukes from his first day in office, when he pardoned or commuted sentences for some 1,500 Maga allies who attacked the Capitol on January 6 and tried to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s election.

  • Kirp123@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    When the 60 minutes reporter asked him why he pardoned the Binance guy he had no idea who that was. They’re probably just putting it in front of him and he signs it.

    I also find it kinda stupid the President can just invalidate a conviction whenever he wants with no oversight. A jury of your peers found you guilty? The president says you don’t have to suffer the consequences.

    • SparroHawc@lemmy.zip
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      2 days ago

      He can only do it for federal crimes. If a state government tossed you in jail, the president can’t do jack about it.

  • Phoenixz@lemmy.ca
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    2 days ago

    I never understood this “the president can pardon anyone” thing.

    A judge and jury found you guilty of a crime, they sentenced you to jail, WTF can a president just overrule that because he wants to?

    It’s insane, but it’s America, insanity is normal there

    • WindyRebel@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Well, as just one example let’s say a judge and jury can find someone guilty of a crime and be racist or bias about it. A President can have the power to then overturn that if, say, overall public discourse really believes that was racist and a very bias conviction and it’s pretty blatant.

      It should be something that is rarely used, but it’s being wielded by a power tripping narcissist. Once again, so much of our society is based on good faith.

      • Coriza@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        So it needed some checks and boundaries, like only be available if a petition is signed by enough people or the Congress has to sign on it. Or has a limited number. Something. This US doing or not something because of tradition or something obviously does not work

  • MyOpinion@lemmy.today
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    3 days ago

    Every day it is a new outrage. Every day I want to thank the evil American voters for this nightmare.