Pelosi Calls for ‘Law to Limit Trump’s Pardon Power’
Democratic House speaker reacts to Roger Stone commutation
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Following President Donald Trump's commutation of former aide Roger Stone, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded calling the president's actions "appalling."
Stone, who was found guilty of seeking to thwart FBI investigations into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, had his sentence commuted on Friday.
Following the news, Pelosi called for a law to prevent Trump from exercising his constitutional power if there is a 'political' connection to him.
"For the president to be able to issue a pardon on the basis of a crime that the person committed assisting the president is ridiculous, and there ought to be a law," Pelosi said.
"And I’m recommending that we pass a law that presidents cannot issue a pardon if the crime that the person is in jail for is one that is caused by protecting the president, which this was," Pelosi added.
"It’s appalling," she declared.
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WATCH:
.@SpeakerPelosi suggests a bill to limit the power of the presidential pardon to prevent it from being used for any crime connected to the president.
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 11, 2020
Her idea comes on the night @realDonaldTrump commutes Roger Stone's prison sentence. pic.twitter.com/s02Yxdz7lQ
The president's power to pardon is noted in Article II of the Constitution:
"He shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment," the Constitution reads.
But Pelosi's recommendation in altering the presidential pardon power would mean changing the constitution itself.
However, Pelosi failed to note that Trump did not pardon Stone, instead fully commuted his three-year sentence.
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Stone was ordered to surrender to prison on Tuesday.
His emergency appeal to extend his July 14 surrender date due to COVID-19 was rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals.
The White House statement said Stone "would be put at serious medical risk" if sent to prison.
The White House said following Trump's decision:
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Grant of Clemency commuting the unjust sentence of Roger Stone, Jr,” calling Stone “a victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years.”
Adam Schiff responded to the news, tweeting:
"Commuting Roger Stone’s sentence is a terrible blow to justice and the rule of law."
Through this act, Trump is saying: “If you lie for me, if you cover up for me, if you obstruct for me, I will protect you.”
"Another tragic day for American democracy."
Commuting Roger Stone’s sentence is a terrible blow to justice and the rule of law.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) July 11, 2020
Through this act, Trump is saying: “If you lie for me, if you cover up for me, if you obstruct for me, I will protect you.”
Another tragic day for American democracy. pic.twitter.com/kgIXpc6HdG
