A Constitutional Crisis in Slow Motion
The most dangerous aspect of these mass pardons is that they are technically legal. The U.S. Constitution provides almost no checks on the pardon power, save for cases of impeachment. This “absolute” nature was intended for a virtuous executive; in the hands of a populist leader determined to reward loyalty and punish “the system,” it becomes a loophole that can swallow the judiciary whole.
By wiping away billions of dollars in restitution and fines, the President is also infringing upon the rights of victims. A pardon should excuse a person from the state’s punishment, but it should not be used to strip a private citizen of their court-mandated compensation. This represents a radical expansion of executive power into civil matters, further blurring the lines between the three branches of government.
The Global Implications
For the international community, particularly our allies in the G7 and the EU, this shift is alarming. The United States has long lectured the world on the importance of an independent judiciary and the “Rule of Law.” That moral authority is now evaporating. When the executive can unilaterally “undo” the work of the courts on a massive scale, the U.S. begins to look less like a constitutional republic and more like a personalist autocracy where the law is merely a suggestion.
