Presidential Pardons: A New Era with Trump?

President Joe Biden's pardon for Hunter Biden was no surprise. Biden loves his family, so a pardon was expected. But here's what's interesting: we might be stepping into a new age of pardons. Imagine if former President Donald Trump gets his way. He wants to stop what he calls "lawfare, " or using law as a weapon. To do this, he wants Pam Bondi as Attorney General, Kash Patel leading the FBI, and Pete Hegseth in charge of defense. This could be a powerful trio to go after Trump's enemies. Biden must be thinking: should I strike first? There are many targets, like special counsel Jack Smith, Nancy Pelosi, and others. Biden can pardon them all, thanks to a Supreme Court decision that says pardons are a key presidential power.

But even if Trump accepts broad pardons, he might start his own pardon era. If he uses government power against enemies, he's immune from court consequences. But his team might not be. So, he might promise pardons before crimes are even committed. But there's a catch. Trump can't pardon state crimes. And he can't protect people or the government from paying damages for wrongs. Plus, Trump's pardon decisions are unpredictable. He might not pardon everyone who follows his orders. So, what's the alternative? Could Trump truly end "lawfare"? The Justice Department could be more independent, the FBI could protect its priorities, and the military could focus on merit. That would be nice, but Trump seems to be planning something different.

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