Pardons have valid uses, but it's wild that a single person can unilaterally pardon donators, family members, former presidents, etc, without needing so much as a simple majority confirmation vote in the House or Senate.
The questionable pardons that we've seen over the last few years (and the Nixon pardon) are just the tip of iceberg in terms of how badly they could be abused.
I'd imagine it won't be long until we see a president issue a preemptive pardon to themself at the end of their term, because there's nothing in the constitution that says they can't.
Avoiding responsibility isn't the goal, and shouldn't be possible.
This is intentional. Pardons are part of the checks and balances against the legislative branch.
Not sure if they can void an improper pardon, but it would nice if the threat of impeachment was more meaningful of a deterrent.
It is political suicide- one of the perks of having 20 different parties.
Presidential immunity for, say, selling a pardon is very new.
We have modified the constitution before. It is not easy, sure. But, presidential pardons are being abused so thoroughly that it does warrant people making the effort to change things.
https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/22/us/ford-wins-kennedy-awar...
