Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution says,
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
“The Constitution establishes the President’s authority to grant clemency, encompassing not only pardons of individuals but several other forms of relief from criminal punishment as well. The power, which has historical roots in early English law, has been recognized by the Supreme Court as quite broad. In the 1886 case Ex parte Garland, the Court referred to the President’s authority to pardon as unlimited except in cases of impeachment, extending to every offence known to the law and able to be exercised either before legal proceedings are taken, or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment. Much later, the Court wrote that the broad power conferred in the Constitution gives the President plenary authority to ‘forgive’ [a] convicted person in part or entirely, to reduce a penalty in terms of a specified number of years, or to alter it with certain conditions.
“Despite the breadth of the President’s authority under the Pardon Clause, the Constitution’s text provides for at least two limits on the power: first, clemency may only be granted for Offenses against the United States, meaning that state criminal offenses and federal or state civil claims are not covered. Second, the President’s clemency authority cannot be used in Cases of impeachment.”1
Pardons will always be controversial, just depending on which side of the convicted person’s case you fall. Our first president, George Washington, was the first to step into the controversial fray of pardons when he pardoned the farmers sentenced to die over the uprising against the whiskey tax.
President Buchanan gave a blanket pardon in 1858 to over 50,000 Mormons in the Utah Territory who raised a militia to fight against the United States in order to claim territory for Brigham Young. The Mormons had burned military wagons and ousted federal officials. Finally, to restore peace to the territory, Buchanan offered this pardon which was accepted by Young.
In more current times, the pardon that was perhaps the most costly was the one granted
by President Gerald Ford to former President Richard M. Nixson. Historians believe this cost Ford the election in 1976.
Carter gave a blanket pardon to Vietnam draft dodgers. Reagan pardoned George Steinbrenner from his conviction of obstruction of justice and conspiracy. George H.W. Bush pardoned those involved in the Iran-Contra affair. Obama reduced Bradley Edward Manning’s (better known as Pvt. Chelsea Manning) 35-year prison sentence for espionage to 7 years. Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, of any crimes committed, including pardons of future crimes that might receive a charge. And, just a few weeks ago, Trump pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of Chrisley Knows Best, for tax evasion and tampering with bank documents.
Will there be more controversial pardons in the years to come? Absolutely! By its nature alone, a pardon is controversial. But I would suggest that the pardons in American history pale in comparison to some others.
Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” The Hebrew word for pardon means to forgive. Dr. Richard Strauss writes, “Abundant pardon is pardon that is multiplied over and over, pardon that has no limit. It is ours for the believing.”2
At salvation, we receive the Lord’s pardon, His forgiveness. This pardon covers all of our sins, past, present, and future. We are undeserving of such mercy, but it is granted anyway on the basis of God’s love for us and faith in His Son’s atonement for our sins.
Pardons are always going to be controversial but not nearly as controversial as it is to pardon sinners. The hymn writer penned these words:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow—
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19)
1https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013316/%5b’full’,%20’pardon’%5d
2https://bible.org/seriespage/19-he-will-abundantly-pardon
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
