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United States: Presidential Pardons Should Uphold, Not Undermine, the Impartial Rule of Law [1]
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Date: 2024-12
WASHINGTON — In response to President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, both for crimes for which he has been convicted and for potential crimes for which he may face prosecution, Freedom House interim president Nicole Bibbins Sedaca released the following statement:
“The sweeping scope of President Biden’s unconditional pardon of his son—not only for the two cases for which he has been convicted, but also for other potential crimes he may have committed over an 11-year period—is nearly unprecedented in US history. The action only compounds existing concern about a recent pattern of politicized misuse of the pardon power.
“Among the United States’ key strengths as a democracy are its strong rule-of-law tradition and its independent judiciary, but public trust in those features has been waning. The presidential pardon was intended by the framers of the constitution to add an element of mercy and clemency to the rule of law. Presidents must take care to use this awesome power responsibly to reinforce public faith in the impartiality of our legal system, rather than undermine it. Using it in sweeping fashion or for personal or political ends risks further eroding the public’s trust.”
Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan democracy organization that works to create a world where all are free. We inform the world about threats to freedom, mobilize global action, and support democracy’s defenders.
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[1] Url:
https://freedomhouse.org/article/united-states-presidential-pardons-should-uphold-not-undermine-impartial-rule-law
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