End presidential pardons

I cannot think of anything less democratic than the ability of a sitting President to be able to pardon people who have been found guilty of crimes.

Feels very monarchic to me.

President Trump has added to his sad legacy by pardoning a disgusting man, General Michael Flynn, who consorted with our enemies to undermine our democracy and was serving a well -deserved sentence.

How can it make sense for this president or any president to have the ability to pardon criminals, especially when the crimes involved that president, as he has done with Flynn and Roger Stone before that.

When Joe Biden takes office in January, and yes, he will, I am hoping that he has the integrity and courage to work with Congress in discarding that privilege.

Bill Clinton pardoned his own brother, Roger, who had served a one-year jail sentence for a drug conviction. Ronald Reagan pardoned New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for charges related to illegal campaign contributions made to Nixon’s campaign. Barack Obama commuted a sentence for Wikileaks figure Chelsea Manning.

The only justification I can think of for letting a sitting president pardon anyone is an inherent distrust of democracy.

For me it is very simple: a president is not above the law and should never have the power to pardon anyone.

Mel Damski

Ferndale