> While in office Trump abused his pardon privilege to excuse dozens of corrupt, convicted allies, and he would likely do so again if reelected.
That’s awful - but didn’t every US president do that?
That’s awful - but didn’t every US president do that?
Trump did this on a wholesale basis. Many of his close allies were convicted, and he pardoned them. Before him, Presidents interfered very rarely, and it was usually a major event when it did happen. In Trump's case, many were convicted of crimes relating to his getting elected -- not just corruption in office, but fundamentally upsetting the rules of democracy itself.
So while Presidents previously were not always angels, there wasn't an expectation that they'd use the pardon indiscriminately. It's a difference not just of number, but in approach, where the process itself comes into question.
Strange decision. Kodaj almost certainly deserves prison.