SmackFu
January 21, 2009, 2:28pm
61
Well, they aren’t getting their jobs back with a felony on their record. Commutation just gets them out of jail early.
I know but some were pushing for a full pardon so they can get their jobs back.
BJMoose
January 21, 2009, 3:11pm
63
BJMoose:
Is presidential pardon power limited to federal crimes?
This possibility didn’t occur to me until I read this thread. If it is limited, blame my ignorance on an absolute interpretation of the word “absolute”.
Just answered my own question. The exact Constitutional language (Article II, Section 2) is: “…power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States…”. So the power is limited to federal cases.
Digital_Stimulus:
The segment also brought up the fact that at least 3 of the pardoned shared the common traits of being (a) from Texas and (b) convicted of crimes tracing back to the S&L scandal from the '80s. I don’t recall any particular motive spelled out for the coincidence of these pardons, which left me sort of scratching my head. Anyone have any further information?
Bush’s brother Neil was the poster child for those scandals.