Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Reintroduces The Presidential Pardon Transparency Act To Prevent Secret Presidential Pardons

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi reintroduced the Presidential Pardon Transparency Act which would require that all Presidential pardons be disclosed to the public within three days of being issued. Congressman Krishnamoorthi's reintroduction with eighteen cosponsors comes in the midst of the ongoing investigation by the Special Counsel, the President's dangling of potential pardons, and the potential pursuit of them by Paul Manafort and others. 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 through giving material witnesses potential federal impunity.

"Our country deserves to know when and how our President has exercised his power to pardon," said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. "Presidential pardons should be transparent and that's why I'm proud to reintroduce the Presidential Pardon Transparency Act to establish that principle in law and guarantee that our country will know if our President is using this power to sabotage the Special Counsel's investigation."