Republican Congressman Signs on to Measure That Would Limit Trump’s Pardon Power

Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska on Monday became the first Republican co-sponsor of a measure that would effectively give Congress veto power over presidential pardons.

The constitutional amendment would allow a group of at least 20 House members and five senators to initiate a process to nullify any current and future presidential pardon. Congress would then have 60 days to gather the two-thirds majority needed to reject.

Introduced in December by Maryland Rep. Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat, the Pardon Integrity Act has yet to pick up traction within either party. As of Monday, Bacon, who is retiring at the end of his current term, is the only co-sponsor.

“Presidential pardons are an important constitutional authority, but like all powers held by the executive branch, these authorities benefit from the appropriate checks and balances the Constitution envisioned,” Bacon told NOTUS. “Frankly, it is clear to me the pardon authority has been abused.”

“I’m pleased to cosponsor Rep. (Johnny) Olszewski’s Pardon Integrity Act,” he added, “a constitutional amendment that establishes a narrow, commonsense guardrail.”

Bacon opposed President Donald Trump’s blanket pardons last year for those involved with the Capitol insurrection, saying the pardons should not have been granted to those who injured law enforcement.

In a post to X on Monday, Olszewski said he was “Proud to have @RepDonBacon join this bipartisan effort — because safeguarding democracy shouldn’t be partisan.”

“When pardons are abused to protect criminals and political allies, Congress has a duty to act,” he continued.

Trump has been prolific in his use of presidential pardon power, granting clemency to former politicians, sports players and financial leaders, on top of his sweeping pardons for those convicted of crimes related to the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

“Unchecked power corrodes our democracy. We cannot sit idly by while the president puts himself above it,” Olszewski wrote in a December opinion piece announcing his proposal. “Congress must have the power to stop the most brazen abuses of clemency: no more get-out-of-jail free cards for the wealthy and well-connected.”

“If we’re serious about upholding the rule of law; if we are serious about our democratic systems, the time to act is now,” he concluded.