Re: Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht Sentenced to Life in Prison
Agreed that Ross has a bleak future, but if "if everything was legalised" a libertarian President could pardon over a million people in jail for victimless crimes. (?)
Do pardons have to be for individuals, or can a USA President do a sweeping pardon of all people convicted of certain crimes, both State and Federal?
That's an interesting question. I would've thought it could only be used for individually considered cases otherwise the prez would be accused of discarding entire laws which makes a mockery of the existing mockery.
If someone did do that they'd probably be voted straight out again by the hang 'em high crew.
I know they can't do anything about state and local level convictions.
The law as written:
Quote
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
Sweeping pardons are not specifically forbidden or granted under article two of the Constitution but I can't imagine a situation where multiple applications could not be reviewed and acted on separately by the Executive Office of the President. The Presidents advisors would review the applications and suggest a pardon. All he has to do is sign them. It's not that much work for him to do them separately.
It's not uncommon, however, for a state governor to pardon (grant clemency) to all prisoners on death row before leaving office. Several hundred are usually pardoned at once.
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