Argumentative Essay On Pardon Power

Pardon Me

When we hear about the president pardoning someone in the news its mostly at the end of their term and often controversial. What are some of the pardons that we can think of? The most recent pardon was president Obama pardoning Chelsea Manning at the end of his term or maybe one of the most famous pardons, the pardoning of President Nixon after the Watergate scandal. However, we rarely hear about the hundreds of people that are pardoned or receive clemency from each president during their term. The United States Constitution defines the president’s power to pardon in article II section 2:” The President…shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.” The president

An article published in the Presidential Studies Quarterly called "The Law: Presidential Misuse of the Pardon Power." by Jeffery Crouch states that” The Anti-Federalists were very concerned that chief executives might be tempted to use clemency to cover up executive branch wrongdoing or for their own personal benefit.” This kind of use of the pardon power started to increase after Watergate, when President Nixon received a pardon from his predecessor President Ford. Paul J. Haase discusses in his article "'Oh My Darling Clemency': Existing or Possible Limitations On the Use of the Presidential Pardon Power." published in the American Criminal Law Review, two of president Clintons most controversial pardons: “Most notably, billionaire Marc Rich and cocaine trafficker Carlos Vignali received pardons. It seems these individuals were pardoned due to the actions of those close to the President who advocated for clemency.” President Ford and President Clinton both handed out pardons that were highly controversial and possibly benefited mostly themselves or someone close to them. The American public did not approve of those pardons but there was no legal way to stop or veto these pardons. This use of the pardon is a problem that should be addressed but there is little hope for change since this power is granted in the United