The Hill: House Democrats renew push for checks on presidential pardons

Democratic lawmakers are weighing a number of options for limiting presidential pardon power in the wake of what they see as an abuse of the system by former President Trump.

Trump signed some 74 pardons on his last day in office, including for his former chief strategist Steve Bannon, while commuting the sentences of 70 others.

It’s a balancing act for some Democrats who are eager to see the office limit jail time for those who have received heavy sentences but want guardrails to ensure the president doesn’t use their power to assist allies and silence potential adversaries. …

Beyond the focus on pardons as a way to aid allies, some advocates encouraged lawmakers to establish an advisory board on pardons. The Justice Department has such a system in place – one that was often ignored during the Trump administration

“Congress should also explore the idea of independent clemency boards to review clemency petitions and advise the president. This could eliminate biases and conflicts of interest inherent in the current system, which often relies on prosecutors at the Department of Justice to serve as a check on their own prosecutions. Members of such a clemency board should reflect our country’s diversity and be representative of stakeholders inside and outside the criminal justice system,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause.