Pardons

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Members of the Proud Boys wearing orange hats stand in front of the U.S. capital.

Nine Experts on the Impact of President Trump’s Pardons and Commutations for January 6 Offenders

We asked nine experts about what clemencies might herald for the future of the rule of law, political violence, and extremism.

What Just Happened: Trump’s January 6 Pardons and Assaults on Law Enforcement Officers By The Numbers

Trump pardoned nearly all the Jan. 6 defendants – including violent offenders. Several hundred of the pardoned defendants were charged with assaulting or obstructing law enforcement…
Pam Bondi headshot, side profile

Questions for Senators (And Journalists) to Ask Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi

We asked leading experts what questions Committee members should ask Bondi in her confirmation hearing.
A black and white horizontal image of a man dressed in a black sweatshirt, with a black mask over his face, holding a weapon in the foreground. The U.S. Capitol is in the background.

Proud Boys Threat Assessment: From the Planning of January 6th to Future Scenarios

The Proud Boys, more than any other organized extremist group, planned the January 6th attack on the US Capitol and led the charge. If they can harness the capacity to do it again,…
The front of the White House is seen through a fence.

Congress Can Curb Abuse of the Presidential Pardon Power

Congress can impose consequences for presidents abusing the pardon power by increasing oversight and imposing transparency requirements.
Side by side photos of Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, and Paul Manafort.

Gaps in Trump’s Pardons: How the Biden Administration Can Still Pursue Justice

Former FBI General Counsel and top prosecutor in Special Counsel's Office explains how the pardons for Bannon, Manafort, Stone left the door open for Justice Department to now…
Ivanka Trump watches Donald Trump speak during a news briefing on coronavirus on March 20, 2020 in Washington, DC. Neither wear face masks.

Purpose, Not Specificity, Limits the Pardon Power: A Rejoinder to Rappaport

'Tis the season for pardons. But must a pardon spell out the crimes to which it applies? The latest in an ongoing conversation between Prof's Bowman and Rappaport on the legality…
Trump

Can a Pardon Be a War Crime?: When Pardons Themselves Violate the Laws of War

Editor’s note: Originally published on May 25, 2019; with an author’s note published on Dec. 24, 2020. Author’s note, Dec. 24, 2020: Not all corrupt pardons…
Mike Pence, Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump, and others sit in the front row at the first US Presidential Debate at Hofstra University September 26, 2016 in Hempstead, New York.

Pardongate 2.0: Prosecutors and Congress Investigated Clinton’s Pardons. The Same Should Happen to Trump.

There's ample precedent (the investigations of Bill Clinton's pardons) and ample reason for Congress and the Department of Justice to launch investigations into President Trump's…

Are Blanket Pardons Constitutional? A Reply to Bowman

If news reports are to be believed, President Trump is considering issuing blanket pardons (“for any and all offenses”) to many of his family-members and associates. In an…
Trump claps his hands at the Republican presidential nomination as son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner and children Eric and Ivanka Trump look on the South Lawn of the White House August 27, 2020 in Washington, DC. None of them wear face masks.

The Constitutionality of Non-Specific Pardons

What the Framers' understanding and subsequent presidential practice tell us.
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