From Hunter to Hoover: How clemency became a circus | Prison

The United States pardon system has been developing a bad name in recent months. It is an area where Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution gives the president essentially boundless authority: “The President shall … have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.” Normally, though, aware of the controversial nature of unilaterally declaring that someone facing criminal charges should be freed, the president…