What's the strategy behind Trump's pardons?
“The 360” shows you diverse perspectives on the day’s top stories.
What’s happening
On Tuesday, President Trump issued pardons and commutations to 11 people, including high-profile figures convicted of white-collar crimes like former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, junk bond pioneer Michael Milken and the former owner of the San Francisco 49ers Eddie DeBartolo Jr.
The announcement was met with strong pushback from the president’s critics, who accused him of basing his decisions on personal connections and pleas made on Fox News. Some of Trump’s previous pardons, like the one issued to former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, have sparked similar reactions.
The Constitution grants presidents the power to pardon individuals they see as unfairly convicted or commute sentences they deem too harsh. Trump isn’t unique for exercising that power — all modern presidents have. He’s also not alone in sparking controversy with his decisions. Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor Richard Nixon for the Watergate scandal. Jimmy Carter granted clemency to people who dodged the Vietnam War. George H.W. Bush cleared Reagan-era officials in the Iran-Contra scandal. Bill Clinton even pardoned his own brother.
Why there’s debate
There’s no question that Trump has the power to pardon whomever he likes. What’s less clear is why he chose to grant clemency to these specific people right now. A common belief is that these pardons are influenced by the case against his longtime advisor Roger Stone, who was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Thursday for interfering with the investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 election. Issuing these pardons now, some argue, is intended to make Stone's actions seem more common and dampen the reaction if Trump chooses to pardon him.
Some see the pardons as a show of strength by Trump, meant to remind both his allies and enemies of the power that he wields over matters of the law and the importance of loyalty. Others argue that Trump intends to send the message that corruption and financial crimes aren’t a big deal since he’s been implicated in similar offenses.
What’s next
Trump fueled speculation that he may pardon Stone tweeting that he believed he had been treated unfairly. His power to pardon Stone, or anyone else, will continue as long as he’s in office.
Perspectives
The pardons will limit the blowback of future decisions
“There may be some really big pardons coming soon and this may, if you will, soften the public for what’s coming.” — Andrew Napolitano, Fox News
They were a preamble to a Stone pardon
“He is desensitizing the public to this idea that corruption is not a big deal... He’s saying to the world ‘These aren’t serious crimes. Nobody got hurt. They weren’t violent.’ And so, similarly when Roger Stone’s name is the next one that comes up for a pardon, he just gets grouped up into that whole category.” — Barbara McQuade, MSNBC
They were a show of strength
“It was the latest extraordinary example of untamed executive power that suggests the President is feeling invincible now he has been delivered from the impeachment storm.” — Stephen Collinson, CNN
The pardons are intended to stave off future investigations
“Trump’s pardons are a big f-you to the prosecutors and FBI agents who worked long and hard on these cases — and a signal to those who target subjects with ties to Trump that their efforts may be for naught. And that’s the point.” — Mother Jones D.C. bureau chief David Corn
Trump wants to make crimes he’s been accused of seem less severe
“More than anything else, the pardons aim to discredit the idea of federal anti-corruption prosecution itself—a campaign by Trump that serves his short-term political ends and, possibly, his long-term legal goals as well.” — Matt Ford, New Republic
Trump is showing allies they’ll be rewarded for loyalty
“The pardons were entirely personal in origin, and so the granting of them was exclusively an exercise of Trump’s own power. That was their point. A benevolent leader dispensed favors.” — Jeffrey Toobin, New Yorker
The pardons strengthen his relationship with Fox News
“Blagojevich’s commutation marks the 10th time Trump has granted executive clemency due to his Fox News obsession. ... And as Trump becomes increasingly successful in politicizing the Justice Department, there is every reason to suspect he will follow the advice of his Fox cabinet.” — Matt Gertz, Media Matters
Pardoning Blagojevich supports his reelection strategy
“The fact that Blagojevich was a Democrat makes it all the better. Trump would never argue that Republicans are clean and Democrats are dirty; he wants to convince you that everyone is dirty. In fact, it’s a key part of his reelection strategy.” — Paul Waldman, Washington Post
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