President's Pardon Power Has No Limits

Guest: Wayne McCormack, JD, Professor of Law, SJ Quinney College of Law, University of Utah At the urging of reality star Kim Kardashian, President Trump today commuted the life sentence of a 63-year-old woman convicted of drug charges. White House aides tell CNN and the Washington Post that other pardons or acts of clemency could soon be on the way. Last week, Trump pardoned conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza for a conviction of making illegal campaign contributions. Others he’s pardoned include former Vice President Dick Cheney’s adviser Scooter Libby and former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio who had been convicted of disobeying a judge’s order to stop racially profiling people suspected of being in the US illegally. Trump has also hinted he may pardon Martha Stewart for her insider trading conviction and Rob Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor who is serving a 14-year sentence for convictions related to trying to sell President Barack Obama’s Senate seat. Trump also tweeted this week that he believes he has the “absolute power” to pardon himself, but said he wouldn’t do so because he’s done nothing wrong. Just how far does the President’s pardon power go?