The pardon power of the president is absolute, which makes it the perfect target for absolute abuse. President Obama issued 212, President Biden granted 80, President Trump pardoned 144 people in his first term. So far in his second term, Trump has issued more than 1,500 pardons to people convicted of crimes. We’ll ask Congressman Mark Pocan whether anything can be done or if we should resign ourselves to knowing that electing a convicted criminal as president would lead to the prison gates being swung open.

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