President's Pardon Power To Be Curbed Under New Proposal
Source: Newsweek
Dec 30, 2025 at 11:38 AM EST
A group of Democrats are seeking to curb the president's pardoning powers by amending the U.S. Constitution. Posting on X, California Democrat Mike Levin issued a statement about a constitutional amendment he is co-sponsoring "to reform the pardon power" by banning self-pardons, barring pardons for family members, senior officials and campaign staff and blocking pardons "used to protect the president's personal or financial interests."
The proposal was first introduced to Congress in January and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary in the same month. It was sponsored by Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen and the other co-sponsors are California Democrat Ted Lieu, Oregon Democrat Suzanne Bonamici and Georgia Democrat Henry Johnson.
Levin said "presidents of both parties have misused" pardoning powers but raised particular concerns about President Donald Trump's use of pardons.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek: President Trump has exercised his constitutional authority to issue pardons and commutations for a variety of individuals. And the only pardons anyone should be critical of are from President Autopen, who pardoned and commuted sentences of violent criminals including child killers and mass murderers and thats not to mention the proactive pardons he signed for his family members like Hunter on his way out the door.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-pardon-power-constitution-11283172
Like YOUR dear leader did for his son-in-law's FATHER - Charles Kushner, who was later confirmed as Ambassador to France? THAT "family member"?
The presidential pardon system is broken.
— Rep. Mike Levin (@levin.house.gov) 2025-12-30T00:42:20.244Z
Right now, there are no meaningful checks on the Presidentâs pardon power. That makes it ripe for abuse, and itâs a threat to the rule of law.
Thatâs why I support a constitutional amendment to put commonsense limits in place.
Link to tweet
@RepMikeLevin
The presidential pardon system is broken.
Right now, there are no meaningful checks on the Presidents pardon power. That makes it ripe for abuse, and its a threat to the rule of law.
Thats why I support a constitutional amendment to put commonsense limits in place: no self-pardons, no pardons for family, administration officials, or campaign staff, and no pardons for anyone whose crimes were committed to benefit the President or those closest to them or carried out at a Presidents direction.
It is time to protect the Constitution and the rule of law with common sense limits that restore public trust.
0:04 / 2:10
7:43 PM · Dec 29, 2025
bucolic_frolic
(53,899 posts)Trump's had a revolving door pardoning crooks who helped him.
Applicants should have been sentenced 3-5 years ago or more.
Bev54
(13,171 posts)then in addition to the new crime they should have to serve out their time for the previous crime. If not yet sentenced then they take a sentencing that would be normal for the crime as accepting a pardon is the same as admitting to the crime.
Raven123
(7,492 posts)Someone I know suggested the president be limited in the number of pardons he/she can offer. Interesting idea. Imagine trumps appointees wondering who would get one. Not suggesting this as the only idea, but worthy of consideration
Trust_Reality
(2,270 posts)Fiendish Thingy
(21,916 posts)Our nominee in 2028 should include in their platform a proposed amendment revising all article II powers of the presidency, not just the pardon power.
Call it the No Kings amendment - restrain the presidents and executive branchs powers, and strengthen the powers of congress so that there are once again three truly co-equal branches of government.
(And kill the filibuster and expand the court while youre at it)
Mr. Sparkle
(3,605 posts)is it an act of clemency or bribery? The latter can still be prosecuted under the law.
dpibel
(3,755 posts)Pardons are right in the presidential wheelhouse, and the Roberts Gang declared that completely off limits for prosecution.
Of course, bribery is a listed ground for impeachment. He said with a mordant chuckle.
paleotn
(21,457 posts)The whole concept smacks of a "king" arbitrarily telling you "you're free now" for no other reason than he can. It undercuts our judicial system and the rule of law. Once you've exhausted your appeals, your done. Serve your damn time.
Trust_Reality
(2,270 posts)BidenRocks
(2,717 posts)First thing is to severely limit ALL the Presidents powers when it comes to self dealing.
Pardoning the tons of coke guy would not be allowed!
Trust_Reality
(2,270 posts)trading pardons for money, favors, or loyalty.
patphil
(8,692 posts)But then I realized she was just another full of shit presidential mouthpiece who was dedicated to lying for the Father of Lies.
The termination of USAID has resulted in the deaths of close to 700,000 people; 2/3 of which are children. But Biden is a mass murderer.
Trump pardoned all the Jan 6th criminals, but Biden.
Trump supports Epstein by keeping his crimes secret, but Biden.
It's shameful to know there are so many people like her in the world; people who defend mass murders, violent criminals, and serial child rapists.
She's no better than they are.
FakeNoose
(40,078 posts)On the other hand "White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson" needs to be fired immediately for being so incompetent.
WTF is this?:
President Trump has exercised his constitutional authority to issue pardons and commutations for a variety of individuals. And the only pardons anyone should be critical of are from President Autopen, who pardoned and commuted sentences of violent criminals including child killers and mass murderers and thats not to mention the proactive pardons he signed for his family members like Hunter on his way out the door.
It sounds like something Chump would have said.
On second thought, maybe Chump DID say it using a fake name ...?!
Polybius
(21,434 posts)And Biden pardoned a family member. Hunter would have been unfairly gone after had he not.
LPBBEAR
(628 posts)should have to be finally approved by a bipartisan committee made up of equal members of both parties. Trump has abused this system and there needs to be oversight on the power to pardon.
Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)
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