There have always been controversial presidential pardons, but at what point does the use of the President’s pardon power become an abuse of power? Does the power to pardon allow for self-serving acts by a president in order to directly benefit that president?
Well, Biden just used his powers of clemency for the first time since taking office.
The Constitution, Article II, Section 2, Clause 1, states that the “President . . . shall have the power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.” Presidential pardons are limited to federal criminal offenses and thus do not protect individuals from being tried in state criminal courts.
Biden announced that he has pardoned 3 people, including a former secret service agent who was convicted of federal bribery charges that he tried to sell a copy of an agency file! He also commuted the sentences of 75 others.
In a statement on Tuesday Biden said:
“Today, I am pardoning three people who have demonstrated their commitment to rehabilitation and are striving every day to give back and contribute to their communities,”
He added,“I am also commuting the sentences of 75 people who are serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses, many of whom have been serving on home confinement during the COVID-pandemic—and many of whom would have received a lower sentence if they were charged with the same offense today, thanks to the bipartisan First Step Act.”
Today, I am pardoning three people who are striving every day to give back and contribute to their communities. I am also commuting the sentences of 75 people who are serving long sentences for non-violent drug offenses.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 26, 2022
Two of those that received clemency were convicted on drug-related charges.
Betty Jo Bogans who was convicted in possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine … after attempting to transport drugs for her boyfriend and his accomplice and Dexter Eugene Jackson who was convicted for using his business to facilitate the distribution of marijuana. And a former U.S. Secret Service agent Abraham W. Bolden, who “was the first African American to serve on a presidential detail,” Bolden was charged with offenses related to attempting to sell a copy of a Secret Service file.
Biden just pardoned Bolden who was charged with trying to sell a government file in exchange for a $50,000 bribe.
And we all know where this coming from, this is because Biden and his first son Hunter are currently in the heat for the subject of “business dealings,” where Biden repeatedly denied the accusations of him being involved in his son’s business operations. It seems that Biden has a knowledge that he will be doomed if his U.S. Secret Service starts to do what Bolden does.
Looks like Biden is frightened of what will happen.
And telling them what to do is likely not enough, as they once produce records by retrieving a handgun belonging to Hunter that was tossed in a dumpster by a lover, but later on, the agency said it had nothing to do with the retrieval, despite evidence to the contrary.
And in addition to that Some Secret Service agents were recently suspended after accepting free rent and other gifts from suspected Iranian spies posing as DHS special agents.
Well, we never know…but one thing is for sure Biden will use his power to stay in power.
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