Amend Presidential Pardon Power

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2008
Amend Presidential Pardon Power
12
Fri, 12-05-2008 - 5:30pm

This amendment proposal has been long overdue. It's a disgrace to allow the executive branch to pardon its own officials for acts they have committed in the execution of their duties. I hope we can all agree that this proposed legislation is good for the country.



Nadler Plans Constitutional Amendment To Curtail Pardon Power
By Justin Elliott - December 5, 2008, 11:09AM


Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) plans to introduce a Constitutional amendment in the coming months to impose limits on the president's near absolute pardon power, he told an NYU-Harper's forum on justice in the post-Bush era Thursday night.


Nadler, who two weeks ago introduced a resolution demanding President Bush not issue 'pre-emptive' pardons of officials in his administration, said his amendment would bar presidents from pardoning members of their own administration for official acts. The president would retain the power to pardon the secretary of state for, say, beating his wife, Nadler said, but not for actions taken in an official capacity.


Nadler added he is considering adding a section limiting the pardon power in the final months of a presidential administration.


"This is something the Congressman thinks is very important, and it's a priority for him," Nadler spokesman Ilan Kayatsky told TPMmuckraker today. Kayatsky said Nadler's office is still doing planning and research on how to structure the amendment.


The president's pardon power is drawn from Article II, Section II of the Constitution, which states in part:


shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

Nadler's amendment would have to be passed by a two-thirds vote of both the Senate and the House and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states. http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/nadler_plans_constitutional_am.php

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2007
Fri, 12-05-2008 - 7:06pm
It is a good idea, but it could take years to get through the amendment process.

Sopal


Sopal

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2008
Fri, 12-05-2008 - 7:31pm
We'll see. It's hard to really get any idea of what kind of political stance the GOP is going to take. Republicans are in disarray and their political ideology is pretty vague at the moment. They'll either obfuscate issues
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-20-2008
Fri, 12-05-2008 - 10:59pm
Don't think it would ever pass muster - when Clinton pardoned Rich that pretty much was the bottom of the barrel - I believe Bush will pardon Libby and grant sweeping pardons to Gonzalez and any other person who had anything to do with the "torture" stuff....
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Sat, 12-06-2008 - 11:08pm

I notice he had no problem with the pardon power when Clinton was President...


Just another partisan pushing a partisan agenda.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-24-2008
Sun, 12-07-2008 - 1:08am
I don't know if he was around when Clinton doled out his pardons, or if he even would have known in time to take action. It isn't partisan; it's long overdue. It never should have been allowed. Ford should never have been allowed to pardon Nixon; Clinton never should have been able to pardon his friends either. It isn't right for politician's to not have to do the time, for their crimes. It isn't right for politician's to not be prosecuted for crimes they've committed either, regardless of their political affiliation.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Sun, 12-07-2008 - 8:58am

Nadler has been in Congress for quite a # of years... before Clinton, I believe.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2008
Sun, 12-07-2008 - 9:37am

I believe the pardon business has gotten out of hand also.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2007
Sun, 12-07-2008 - 11:23am
It would be great to go after Bush pardons (if they happen as projected), but a Constitutional amendment can take years and years, so that won't be happening even if Nadler gets his way.

Sopal


Sopal

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-05-2008
Sun, 12-07-2008 - 11:32am
Can I hope for retroactive action???
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2004
Sun, 12-07-2008 - 11:45am
But I bet you wouldn't ask for it to go back to Bill and Hillary days. LOL

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