Presidential Pardons

The controversy surrounding the pardons granted by Presidents Biden and Trump in the last few days, inspired me to research past presidential pardons. 

As a result, I was surprised to learn that the concept of a presidential pardon is not a recent phenomenon. George Washington issued sixteen presidential pardons during his two terms as president, the most notable for two individuals convicted for their participation in the Whiskey Rebellion which occurred in the first decade of our country's existence. 

Other early presidents pardoned people convicted of similar acts against the government, some violent like the Whiskey Rebellion which was a protest against the first tax levy against an American made product, some non-violent which basically amounted to prosecutions based on criticism of the US government, and some were for criminals who later in life assisted America, for instance many men convicted of piracy who later fought in the War of 1812.

Only two presidents issued zero pardons, William Henry Harrison and Garfield, although that was more a function of them dying early in their presidency.

A number of presidents issued blanket pardons which covered unnamed people who shared an activity, such as those who fought on the Confederate side in the Civil War (by a number of presidents in varying degrees), members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who were convicted of polygamy (Benjamin Harrison), and those who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War, upwards of 200,000 people (Carter).

Of course the most famous pardon was granted in 1974 to Richard Nixon by Gerald Ford, a pardon some say would have been unnecessary had the GOP been filled with the spineless group we have today, and had the Supreme Court of the time not think presidents have immunity for crimes committed while in office, as our current iteration of SCOTUS has ruled.

If you are interested in a more complete list, it doesn't take much effort to find summaries of each president's pardons, and the notable names among those totals.

Which brings us to the pardons issued on January 20, by both Biden and Trump each which were met with outrage depending on how one voted last November.

I am in partial agreement with Biden's use of his presidential powers. While it is unprecedented to pardon one's family members who have not been convicted of a crime (Hunter not withstanding), sort of a preemptive pardon, based on the frequent statements by the new president and those who will soon lead the DOJ and FBI, I support Biden's pardon of his siblings and their wives. Since a presidential pardon does not include any state crimes that may have been committed by any of his family members, Biden's decision to short circuit any revenge investigations or acts of retribution by the president or his minions, was a direct consequence of all the talk about going after the Biden "crime family", so it made sense.

I was less enthusiastic of his pardons for the January 6th committee members. They knew what they were doing when they ran for office, and accepted a position on the committee. As public servants who were fully aware of the meanness of their chosen profession, is was a known risk. While I believe it's possible that someone like Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzigner or Bennie Thompson would have been targeted, I respectfully would have preferred that to occur, to demonstrate, again, how partisan and pathetic our government has become, especially under Trump.

I feel the same about General Milley's pardon; understandable but not necessary.

As for Dr Anthony Fauci, I am on the fence. Again, he was a public servant. The fact that he served under a half dozen different presidents from both parties should be enough to garner respect and protection from the zealots. Unfortunately, it is not enough, so I give Biden the benefit of the doubt in pardoning him, to allow Fauci to avoid what would have been rancorous and ugly investigations, as a reward for his public service, and the simple fact that his medical advice during COVID most likely saved hundreds of thousands of American lives.

As for Trump's pardons for those who beat up 140 police officers as they attacked our nation's capitol, who trashed said capitol building causing a few million dollars worth of damage, who threatened to kill both the vice president and various members of Congress, it is just another brick in the wall of our receding democracy. 

However, just to be clear, had Trump's trial been allowed to take place, had he been convicted of attempting to thwart the will of the people by overturning the results of the 2020 election, had he been relegated to the dustbin of history as the first failed dictator of the United States, I would gladly recommend pardons for those who believed that the election was stolen due to the lies of Trump and his acolytes. Other than those in the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who were part of the conspiracy, even those who wielded flag poles and fire extinguishers, those who sprayed bear repellent into the eyes of the capitol police officers who they fought hand-to-hand in their attempt to invade the capitol and stop the electoral count certification, even those who proudly recorded themselves as they rampaged through the capitol building bragging about doing Trump's dirty work, even those people I would pardon, in hopes of demonstrating that unity among the American people is paramount, and that we are all susceptible to liars and con men.

Sadly, no such unity is on the horizon. There will be retribution against those Americans who see Trump as I do and who call him out for his autocratic tendencies, his immorality, his crimes against other American citizens as well as the United States itself. And not just individuals, but certain business, news outlets, and advocacy groups.

No one will beyond his ire, as was clearly demonstrated in his late night tweet against Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who had the temerity to request he follow the teachings of Christ and show mercy and restraint towards the least among us, which today translates as the LGBTQ and transgender communities, and the millions of undocumented, especially those brought to America as children and those born here but to the "wrong" parents.

The man is as far from a follower of Jesus, as far away an example of the spirit of Christianity as any American leader in my lifetime, and those who take the knee before him are as guilty as he is, especially those billionaires who sat with him at his inauguration, having sold their souls for even more money than they already possess.

It is a truly remarkably sad day for the country once inspired to be the shining city upon the hill, which has now adopted the mantra that any nation which wants our business, our protection, our good intentions, must do what we wish, or else. 

Threats not example, violence not cooperation, the bully nation in action, yet somehow populated by millions who believe that God blesses us above all. 

And so the decline continues. 

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2024/09/the-decline-of-america-part-one.html

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-decline-of-america-part-two.html