The US amnesty system has been developing bad names in recent months. Articles 2, 2 and 1 of the Constitution are areas where the president essentially gives an infinite authority. “The President… will have the authority to grant reprieve and pardon for crimes against the United States, except in the case of ammo each.” However, acknowledging the controversial nature of unilaterally declaring that those facing criminal charges should be released will exercise this authority on a decline in their term. In any case, there are no reelection concerns. This is important because it often gets upset when the White House pen stroke erases long legal proceedings.
President Joe Biden follows this pattern and issues more commuters in history than any other CEO. In line with his Catholic faith, he nearly wiped out the federal death row and notified the sentence of 37 out of the 40 condemned prisoners. However, he courted the most opposed when he negated the beliefs of his son Hunter. It was all wrapped in nepotism, using his constitutional powers for those near him.
President Donald Trump came on his heels. Like many of his actions in his first 100 days, Trump was acting as if he had already exhausted his time. He was barely sworn in office before issuing 1,600 amnesty to those who were allegedly committed crimes in the 2021 Capitol’s frequently violent storms. Indeed, this caused rage among some, and was characterized as a “face slap” by the chief of Capitol police.
Since then, Trump has continued to pardon him. Some are pretty predictable: 21 of his recent grants have been linked to the Face (Free Access to Clinics) Act, violence, intimidation, and laws that prohibit interference with individuals seeking or providing reproductive health services. Here he was courting the MAGA anti-abortion wing.
White House spokesman Harrison Fields said in a statement that Trump is “pleasant to give the supposed Americans a second chance, especially those who have been unfairly targeted and over-indicted by the unfair justice system.”
As a rule, this is fair enough, but usually there must be some evidence of regret and rehabilitation. In contrast, he forgives Scott Jenkins this week, a longtime supporter and former sheriff, who was found guilty in 2024 for accepting bribery over $75,000 in exchange for creating several businessmen in official law enforcement. “Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his wife Patricia, and their family were dragged into hell,” Trump wrote in a post about his true social network. But Jenkins, like millions of others, was only dragged into the US trial system, and he hadn’t even nibbled himself to begin his sentence.
Reality TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley were later convicted in 2022 of fraudulent banks over $36 million by filing false bank statements and other records. They spent unfair profits on luxury cars and travel, but it’s hard to see what they did to deserve special treatment.
This brings us to the latest case of Larry Hoover, the infamous founder of Chicago’s gangster apprentice. Prosecutors didn’t even bother to bring many cases to justice. In fact, at last year’s hearing, the judge asked one of Hoover’s lawyers. “How many other murders is he in charge?”
Trump has notified him of his federal prison sentence. This is unlikely to accomplish anything more than transfer him to an Illinois prison where he has to serve 200 years in a national murder conviction. What did this achieve and what was the president’s motivation to do it?
One particularly odd element of these pardons is that CBS News reports that many of its beneficiaries have not even made a formal application. Trump just reached out and acted on his own. In some cases, he seemed to rely on what he saw on TV. He says he is considering tolerance for those convicted of the 2020 conspiracy to lure Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to overthrow the state government. “I saw the trial,” he said. “It looked like a railroad job…”
If it is currently corrupted or simply arbitrary, it will not abolish the privilege of mercy of the President. I’m in favor of considering a second chance in all cases. As a society, we are too punitive. However, there should be some consistency if citizens maintain respect for the judicial system.
In fact, due process means that there is a process and you need to follow it. In the case of Aafia Siddiqui before Christmas, I filed a compelling 76,000 words generous petition. Biden rejected her on January 20th without addressing her innocence, the abduction of his child, and the fact that she is facing the sexual abuse she faces in prison today.
Then this week, my 10th century former death row inmate Clarence Smith passed away in federal prison. He was terminally ill, again patentably innocent and despite proving to be a model prisoner, he was denied a compassionate release.
So be aware of how the immeasurable power of the President is used (or abused). Perhaps consider impose a rule of transparency on him.
The views expressed in this article are the authors themselves and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.