Understanding Trump’s pardon abuses
Although presidential pardons are often controversial, Trump created an entirely new class: what Protect Democracy categorizes as “henchmen pardons.”
October 28, 2022
Policy Advocate
Grant Tudor develops and advocates for a range of reforms to shore up our democratic institutions. He works often with coalitions to influence federal policymaking with an emphasis on advancing accountability, preventing abuses of power, strengthening Congress, and promoting electoral reforms. Grant developed a commitment to fortifying democracy at home after working on various issues abroad, including with UNRWA, a UN refugee agency, and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a group that mediates armed conflict. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School and MPP from Harvard Kennedy School where he was a Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership.
Although presidential pardons are often controversial, Trump created an entirely new class: what Protect Democracy categorizes as “henchmen pardons.”
October 28, 2022
In this opinion piece, Protect Democracy’s Anne Tindall and Grant Tudor argue that “Congress enjoys an expansive constitutional authority to investigate just about any matter it chooses, and to enforce that authority through compulsory tools like subpoenas. The Supreme Court has explained that the scope of this investigative power ‘is as penetrating and far-reaching as the potential power to enact and appropriate under the Constitution.’ So long as the inquiry could plausibly relate to an issue ‘on which legislation could be had’—in this case, efforts to pass new judicial ethics laws—Congress is well within constitutional bounds to exercise its investigative muscles.”
Defeating authoritarianism is going to take all of us. Everyone and every institution has a role to play. Together, we can protect democracy.
DonateSign Up for Updates Sign Up for Updates
Explore Careers Explore Careers
How to Protect Democracy How to Protect Democracy