Why Presidents Pardon the Guilty: A Personal Reflection on Power, Loyalty, and Human Nature
One of the quiet privileges of getting older, reaching 91 in my case is the ability to watch history unfold with both distance and perspective. I’ve lived through presidents who used the pardon power with restraint, others who used it boldly, and a few who wielded it as if it were a personal signature on history. Every president, in one way or another, reveals a piece of their character through those they choose to forgive.
In recent years, no one demonstrated this more clearly than Donald Trump.
His pardons did not follow the traditional Department of Justice review process. They were direct, personal, and often aimed at people who had been convicted of corruption, fraud, lying to investigators, or abusing power. From Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort to Rod Blagojevich and Joe Arpaio, the list read like a who’s who of political operatives, loyalists, and controversial public figures.
As someone who spent a lifetime working in government service, including the FDA and the post-9/11 recovery efforts, I’ve seen how deeply Americans depend on public trust. So naturally, I found myself asking: Why do presidents, especially Trump, pardon people convicted of major offenses? And what does it say about leadership and human nature?
Let me share a few reflections.
The Pardon as a Window Into the Soul
The Constitution gives the president a remarkable power: the ability to wipe away a federal conviction with no explanation required. This is not a committee decision, nor a legal appeal. It is one person’s judgment, unfiltered and final.
And whenever a president uses such a personal tool, we see their values more clearly.
For Trump, pardons were tied closely to loyalty. Those who stood by him during investigations were rewarded. Those who criticized him were not. This isn’t unique to him, presidents have always pardoned friends and allies but Trump did so openly and unapologetically, making it part of his political identity.
In a way, it was leadership through loyalty rather than leadership through institutions.
A President at War With the System
I’ve spent decades in federal service. I know the flaws and the strengths of our institutions. Most of the people I worked with were dedicated, sometimes to a fault, in doing the right thing. But Trump often saw federal agencies differently, not as guardians of justice, but as political actors.
So when he pardoned individuals convicted of corruption or deception, he wasn’t just forgiving them. He was rejecting the judgment of the very institutions tasked with protecting the rule of law. It was his way of saying, “I decide what justice looks like.”
That kind of mindset can be unsettling, but it is also deeply revealing.
The Theater of Power
Every pardon creates a moment. Some presidents use that moment to highlight compassion or rehabilitation. Trump used it to demonstrate strength.
He enjoyed the public spectacle, the headlines, the reminder that even in a divided government, he held a tool no one could challenge. In the world of politics, where power is often shared or negotiated, the pardon is one of the few areas where a president acts alone.
And Trump preferred political tools he could use without interference.
A Reminder of Human Nature
As I reflect back on my own career and my 90-plus years of observing American society, I’ve learned something simple: power always reveals more than it conceals.
Trump’s pardons weren’t merely political acts; they were psychological windows. They reflected a worldview built on personal loyalty, skepticism of institutions, and a belief in the president’s right to reshape narratives as he saw fit.
Agree or disagree, the pardons tell a story, not just about Trump, but about the uneasy balance between justice, mercy, and presidential power.
In the End
Presidential pardons, like the presidents themselves, evolve with the times. They reflect not only the crimes committed but the character of the leader granting forgiveness.
As I continue to write these reflections from my quiet corner here at THD, enjoying the community, the memories, and even my weekly massages, I’m reminded that political events are more than headlines. They are reflections of human behavior, ambition, fear, loyalty, and sometimes redemption.
And as long as I can still write, I will continue sharing these observations for my family, friends, and readers who have joined me on this long journey since I first began blogging back in 2009.
Short List of Notable Trump Pardons (for Reader Reference)
1. Michael Flynn – Former National Security Adviser, convicted of lying to the FBI
2. Paul Manafort – Trump’s former campaign chairman, convicted of tax and bank fraud
3. Roger Stone – Longtime adviser, convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering
4. Steve Bannon – Former strategist, charged with fraud related to “Build the Wall” fundraising
5. Charles Kushner – Real estate developer, convicted of tax evasion and witness retaliation
6. Joe Arpaio – Former Arizona sheriff, convicted of criminal contempt of court
7. Dinesh D’Souza – Commentator, convicted of illegal campaign contributions
8. Rod Blagojevich – Former Illinois governor, convicted of corruption
9. Scooter Libby – Former Cheney aide, convicted of obstruction and perjury
10. Eddie Gallagher – Navy SEAL, convicted of posing with a dead ISIS fighter (Trump also intervened in his military disciplinary proceedings)
- Constitutional Basis: The power originates from Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution.
- Scope and Limitations:
- Federal Crimes Only: The President can only pardon federal crimes, not state or local offenses.
- No Impeachment: Impeachment cases are excluded from this power.
- Broad Discretion: The power is extensive and not subject to restrictions by Congress or the judiciary; pardons can be issued at any stage of legal proceedings.
- Does Not Erase Record: A pardon restores civil rights but does not remove the conviction from the record.
- Must Be Accepted: The recipient must accept the pardon for it to be effective.
- Process: While the President can act independently, applications are typically reviewed by the Office of the Pardon Attorney, which provides recommendations.
- Controversies: The use of pardons has often been controversial throughout history, frequently for political reasons.
- Trump Pardons Cuellar and Hernandez: President Trump recently issued pardons to Rep. Henry Cuellar for bribery and money laundering charges and to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.
- Biden Pardons Questioned: Trump has questioned the validity of some of Biden's pardons, alleging they were signed using an autopen, a claim legal experts have disputed.
- Mass Pardons: Both Biden and Trump have issued mass pardons for specific categories of offenses. Biden issued pardons related to federal marijuana possession and military convictions for homosexual conduct. Trump issued a mass pardon for individuals involved in actions related to the January 6th Capitol attack.
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