Sen. Slotkin Advocates for Ending Presidential Pardons

Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) is pushing for a termination of presidential pardons, voicing her concerns on social media recently. She feels that the concept of pardons doesn’t make sense in today’s world.

“I’ve been an advocate for stopping presidential pardons for both political parties. I truly believe they’re problematic,” Slotkin stated. She referenced a recent example where former President Donald Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of the cryptocurrency firm Binance, who had strongly invested in Trump’s family ventures. “I didn’t approve of it when it happened under Democrats, and it’s no better under Republicans,” she added.

While many House Democrats align with Slotkin’s concerns regarding pardons, opinions vary among members of the Judiciary Committee on whether the presidential power should be entirely abolished.

There are ongoing issues tied to recent pardons. Trump’s clemency for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, alongside former President Joe Biden’s preemptive pardons for family members, raises questions about appropriate usage.

Representative Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, expressed his full agreement with Slotkin’s stance, citing the misuse of the power.

Others, however, hesitate to remove the power completely. Representative Sidney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) noted, “We’ve had presidents in the past who have exercised pardons wisely. Right now, though, we face an unprecedented situation with a president who’s not accountable.” She suggested that preserving the system is crucial, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful use rather than throwing everything out.

Kamlager-Dove pointed out Biden’s commutation of Native American activist Leonard Peltier’s sentence as a case where the pardoning power was appropriately utilized.

Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) echoed this sentiment, arguing that while abuses must be addressed, the compassionate use of pardons should remain.

Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) indicated her support for limiting presidential pardons but recognized that any significant adjustments would require constitutional amendments. “I think it should be applied more narrowly,” she remarked, though she’s uncertain about how to quantify that.

When asked about the purpose of presidential powers, Lieu expressed uncertainty. “There’s a clear deviation from the original intent of the pardon power,” he noted, criticizing Trump’s handling of pardons for violent offenders and their associates.