CNN legal analyst Elliot Williams called the presidential pardon power “awful” after Jeffrey Epstein’s former madam’s proposal.
The former federal prosecutor was reacting to news that Ghislaine Maxwell has offered to “clear President Trump, former President Clinton” in exchange for a pardon. While this could be considered a sound legal tactic given her current situation, many Americans would likely find such a deal distasteful, especially considering the nature of the crimes Maxwell was convicted of. Williams also makes the argument that presidential pardon power has gone unrestrained for far too long, saying it’s up to Congress to figure out some guardrails for such a powerful use of the office.
Watch:
(Video Credit: CNN)
“So how are you reading that in contrast to this push from her attorney essentially saying that she would clear President Trump, former President Clinton, as long as she gets clemency or pardon?” Williams was asked.
“It’s kind of a reminder of how awful the pardon power is in our world right now. Because the framers drafted it, did not put any guardrails on it, and for the last 240 years — or however long — nothing has been done to restrain it,” he responded. “Presidents have abused the pardon power for a long time. And quite frankly, if President Trump wants to pardon her to clear his name and clear Bill Clinton’s, he‘s allowed to because that’s how vast the pardon power is in the Constitution. It‘s sickening how it all works, how folks can go to the White House and ask for a pardon and ultimately get one. And President Trump has been quite aggressive in giving out pardons. That’s sort of how the game is played here in the country. And frankly, it falls to Congress to limit. Yeah, make some changes.”
Maxwell suggested the deal in a Monday video deposition, which Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) called “disappointing.”
“We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators,” he said in a statement to reporters. “We sincerely want to get to the truth for the American people and justice for the survivors. That’s what this investigation is about.”
President Donald Trump has continuously denied any sexual misconduct allegations, especially in relation to Jeffrey Epstein, and in a surprise twist, appeared to sympathize with the Clintons, former President Bill and former Secretary of State Hillary, for effectively being forced to testify before the House Oversight Committee.
“Ehhh, I think it’s a shame, to be honest. I always liked him. Her, she’s a very capable woman. She was better at debating than some of the other people. I will tell you that. She was smarter. Smart woman. I hate to see it in many ways. I hate to see it, but, you know, then I look at me, they went after me like, you know, they wanted me to go to jail for the rest of my life. Then it turned out I was innocent, very innocent,” Trump said to reporters.
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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