John,
After President Trump pardoned his ally and former national security advisor Michael Flynn last week, there are reports that he may further abuse his pardon power before leaving office.
First, yesterday it was indicated that Trump has discussed issuing pardons to the man most aggressively promoting falsehoods about the election, Rudy Giuliani, as well as Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his three oldest children: Don Jr, Eric, and Ivanka.
While none of these people were charged with a crime, Trump is talking to his advisors about preemptively pardoning all of them. That’s something totally innocent people do, right?
Then, news broke last night that the Department of Justice is investigating a “bribery-for-pardon scheme.” While little is know about the plot or who was involved, this is just what you would expect in the den of thieves environment surrounding the White House.
Trump has even discussed trying to pre-pardon himself. Let’s be clear: Trump pardoning himself would be unconstitutional, illegitimate, corrupt and void.
Because we are a nation of laws, not individuals, and no one is above the law.
If all of this sounds highly suspect and corrupt, that’s because it is. Trump is seemingly trying to use his office to protect himself, his family, and those who protected him from accountability along the way. This would be an unprecedented abuse of the pardon power, and it’s absolutely imperative that we ensure no president can do anything like this in the future.
That’s why we need to pass my Protecting Our Democracy Act ASAP. This bill would prevent abuses of presidential power like the pardon, restore our system of checks and balances, create greater accountability and transparency, and protect our elections.
Will you add your name in support of the Protecting Our Democracy Act now to urge Congress to pass this legislation and prevent future presidents from abusing the pardon like Trump?
Thanks for speaking out,
Adam
