Inside the Trump Clemency Chaos: Political Pardon Power Run Amok

President Donald Trump’s approach to clemency marks a radical departure from historically impartial justice processes, opening the floodgates for thousands seeking pardons or commutations with politically tinted petitions. Nearly 10,000 convicts have now petitioned for mercy under a system transformed by Trump's influence, eager to appeal directly to the commander-in-chief. Unlike past administrations, where nonpartisan Justice Department officials meticulously reviewed applications weighing remorse and rehabilitation, the current operation has been overtaken by political considerations. Ed Martin Jr., a vocal Trump loyalist who represented January 6 rioters and promoted election conspiracy theories, now oversees pardon recommendations—shrouding the process in partisan bias....