Virtual Event – “Perspectives on the Pardon Power”
Register to join us for a virtual event on Tuesday, May 21 at 12 noon ET.
The Constitution provides that the President of the United States “shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.” Though there is no doubt that the president enjoys broad discretion in the application of this power, presidents of both parties have come under sharp criticism for how they’ve chosen to apply it.
Now, as a former and possibly future president finds himself and his associates under criminal indictment, legal and practical questions surrounding the application of the pardon power — and its intersection with impeachment and assertions of presidential immunity — have taken center stage.
Our expert panel will discuss the roots of the pardon power, its use and abuse, and its legal limits (if any). We will also discuss custom and institutional guardrails around pardon misuse that have developed over time, and whether Congress has any additional options to respond to what it may perceive as misuse of the power.
Speakers
Gary Schmitt
Senior Fellow,
American Enterprise Institute
Justin Florence
Managing Director & Co-Founder,
Protect Democracy
Shannen Coffin
Partner and Appeals and Advocacy Chair, Steptoe. Former Counsel to Vice President Cheney
Gregg Nunziata
Executive Director, Society for the Rule of Law. Former Chief Nominations Counsel, Senate Judiciary Committee
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