Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi to Introduce Presidential Pardon Transparency Act to Prevent President Trump from Granting Secret Pardons to Disrupt Mueller Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi will be introducing the Presidential Pardon Transparency Act which will require that all Presidential pardons be disclosed to the public within three days of being granted. Congressman Krishnamoorthi's legislation comes on the heels of President Trump's consulting aides and counsel as to his power to pardon associates, family members, and even himself. Notably, Presidential pardons can be granted preemptively, before any charges are even filed, and there is currently no legal requirement for the President to disclose such pardons despite their ability to disrupt an investigation. The bill already has 21 original co-sponsors.
"The Presidential Pardon Transparency Act will require the White House to disclose all the President's pardons to guarantee transparency and to prevent President Trump, or anyone who succeeds him, from issuing secret pardons," said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. "There is currently no requirement that the President disclose pardons, even as he has reportedly weighed using them to sabotage Special Counsel Mueller's investigation. The President has the power to pardon but the American people have the right to know how and when he has. The Presidential Pardon Transparency Act will establish this principle in law."