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BumRushDaShow

(166,312 posts)
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 06:09 PM Dec 30

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 that’s 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



proactive pardons he ‘signed’ for his family members


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.

Right now, there are no meaningful checks on the President’s pardon power. That makes it ripe for abuse, and it’s a threat to the rule of law.

That’s why I support a constitutional amendment to put commonsense limits in place.

Rep. Mike Levin (@levin.house.gov) 2025-12-30T00:42:20.244Z





Rep. Mike Levin
@RepMikeLevin
The presidential pardon system is broken.

Right now, there are no meaningful checks on the President’s pardon power. That makes it ripe for abuse, and it’s a threat to the rule of law.

That’s 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 President’s 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

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

bucolic_frolic

(54,204 posts)
1. They should time limit pardons too
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 06:14 PM
Dec 30

Trump's had a revolving door pardoning crooks who helped him.

Applicants should have been sentenced 3-5 years ago or more.

Bev54

(13,251 posts)
7. They should also add a caveat that if the person pardoned commits another crime
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 07:22 PM
Dec 30

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

(7,582 posts)
2. "Corrupt Purpose" is too vague.
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 06:14 PM
Dec 30

Someone I know suggested the president be limited in the number of pardons he/she can offer. Interesting idea. Imagine trump’s appointees wondering who would get one. Not suggesting this as the only idea, but worthy of consideration

Fiendish Thingy

(22,241 posts)
3. It will take a Democratic president to get such an amendment through congress and to the states
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 06:17 PM
Dec 30

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 president’s and executive branch’s 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 you’re at it)

Mr. Sparkle

(3,622 posts)
4. When an act of clemency is rewarded by money
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 06:35 PM
Dec 30

is it an act of clemency or bribery? The latter can still be prosecuted under the law.

dpibel

(3,805 posts)
5. The seller can't be prosecuted
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 06:56 PM
Dec 30

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

(21,692 posts)
6. I wouldn't mind seeing ALL pardons curtailed or eliminated.
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 06:59 PM
Dec 30

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.

BidenRocks

(2,853 posts)
8. Yay! I posted this a few days ago.
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 07:24 PM
Dec 30

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

(2,275 posts)
9. Does not go far enough. There needs to be some way to stop a president from
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 08:02 PM
Dec 30

trading pardons for money, favors, or loyalty.

patphil

(8,746 posts)
13. It took me a while to realize Abigail Jackson wasn't talking about president Trump.
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 08:15 PM
Dec 30

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

(40,378 posts)
14. Thank you Rep. Mike Levin!
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 08:22 PM
Dec 30


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 that’s 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

(21,560 posts)
15. I don't support this
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 08:22 PM
Dec 30

And Biden pardoned a family member. Hunter would have been unfairly gone after had he not.

LPBBEAR

(642 posts)
16. Pardons
Tue Dec 30, 2025, 08:51 PM
Dec 30

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)

mdbl

(8,156 posts)
18. I wonder how many election cycles getting rid of Repuglicans it will take
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 08:41 AM
Dec 31

before this can become law.

JohnnyRingo

(20,556 posts)
19. It might pass if they call it "The Hunter Biden Amendment".
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 09:02 AM
Dec 31

Republicans will probably pile on for that.

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