Pardons, Pardons, and More Pardons

Inauguration Day proved historic in terms of the presidential pardon power, both for the outgoing and incoming presidents.

First, outgoing President Joe Biden announced a list of pardons signed a day prior, including for members of his own family, members and staff of the January 6 Select Committee, General Mark Milley, and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Next, after being sworn in, incoming President Donald Trump commuted the sentences of 14 individuals “convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” and issued a “full, complete, and unconditional pardonto all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.” All told, the decree ended the legal cases of more than 1,500 defendants.

Analysis and eternal perspective: As we as The Equipped community have discussed together before, Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution clearly grants the President the “Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.” This power is widely acknowledged as legitimate, if not so widely embraced as desirable. Its use has also dramatically changed over the decades, and, as evidenced this week, has been increasingly used to benefit both personal and political allies.

A change to the scope of this presidential power would require a constitutional amendment, which, as prescribed by Article V of the U.S. Constitution, requires approval by a two-thirds supermajority of both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

In the meantime, Jesus followers should both, a) Consider the decrees of each president directly and objectively according to the merits, and b) Acknowledge that no political leader is free from the human limitations of personal and political bias.

Even more important, we should humbly remind ourselves that God “works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed,” and is simultaneously “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Ps. 103:6-8).

You deserve judgment. I do, as well. Instead, we have been granted a full pardon according to the abounding mercy of our heavenly father.

While this Truth does not necessarily justify the actions of either president, it should produce in us a heart of deep gratitude and joy for possession of a grace we do not deserve!

The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.