All Pardons Are Not Equal

The problem isn’t pardons for non-violent offenders or targeted innocent persons, but abuse of pardons as a reward for violent actions on behalf of a wannabe dictator

Highest among the plethora of unforgivable, offensive actions taken in just the past week by the returning squatter in the White House is the pardon of around 1,500 convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, insurrection. So much for the party of “law and order.” Loyalty to the squatter-in-chief is the only qualification for being pardoned or being nominated to a cabinet or other high-level position.

Despicable as this action was, that isn’t the main purpose of this post.

I have written in the past about the tendency of the Democrats to form a “circular firing squad,” pointing the finger of blame at each other (those who are too liberal, too conservative, socialist, communist, etc., etc., etc.) rather than getting down to the hard work of organizing to share and try to implement what we know are positions and policies that most Americans want. We know that we have the winning positions on nearly every issue of real consequence to average Americans just seeking to keep their heads above water. I have also written about the propensity of the media to engage in “both-sidesism” that sets up false equivalencies between the bonkers actions of the squatter-in-chief and his minions and the rational actions of those seeking to be the public servants they were elected to be. You know who you are…New York Times, Washington Post, and many others.

Over the past week I’ve been hearing about how awful it is that President Biden abused his power to extend pardons to his family and a number of individuals who were in the crosshairs of the incoming administration. Yes, he said he would not pardon his son Hunter, but Hunter would have been a continuing target and punching bag for the likes of Kash Patel and the Department of Justice for crimes that would only have received a slap on the wrist had his name not been Biden. So many others were preemptive pardons—Mark Milley, Liz Cheney and members of the J6 Committee, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, and many more who did not commit crimes at all, but did commit the outrage of standing up to or speaking out against the squatter-in-chief. And to be fair, there were some pardons that were indefensible—like that of Judge Michael Conahan, one of the architects of the “cash-for-kids” scandal in Pennsylvania. But most Biden’s last-minute pardons for actual offenders were for those who had committed non-violent drug offenses.

On the other hand, J6 pardons went to those who violently attacked Capitol Police and DC law enforcement personnel who were trying to defend the Capitol and protect Members of Congress and their staff on January 6, and who even threatened to hang then Vice President Pence. There is NO apparent remorse on the part of most of them. In fact, some of the most visible leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys have already vowed to rearm and rise up again. Jacob Chansley, the “QAnon Shaman,” posted almost immediately, “I got a pardon baby! Thank you President Trump! Now I am gonna buy some motha f***in guns! I love this country! God Bless America.”

I am sickened when I witness the handwringing on the part of far too many Democrats over Joe Biden’s use of pardons, claiming they are created a precedent for the squatter-in-chief to issue the pardons he did (which, BTW, he promised over and over during his campaign). Many in the mainstream media are spouting this same message. It must be said that the actions by these two men are NOT equivalent.

First, every president has for years issued pardons at the end of their administrations. Some, like that given to Conahan, are questionable, but many, if not most, have offered a second chance to nonviolent offenders to rebuild their lives. This is mercy. This is central to Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s message to the incoming administration at the Washington Cathedral last week. The pardons of those convicted of J6 crimes are not the same thing. The preemptive pardons offered by President Biden were issued to shield innocent persons from investigation and prosecution that would threaten their safety and very livelihoods in some cases. Most can’t grift to have others cover their legal expenses. Many will still incur enormous cost to protect themselves from those who believe they have a responsibility to destroy the enemies of their “god.”

Second, as I noted above, this squatter-in-chief had long promised to pardon the J6 offenders. He did not make the decision to pardon them in response to Biden’s pardons. There was no attempt to separate violent from non-violent offenders. One aide to the incoming administration said, "Trump just said: 'F -k it: Release 'em all.” Many of those pardoned for J6 crimes are already feeling emboldened to commit further violence in the service of their MAGA king.

All pardons are not equal. We who claim Christianity (that is, we who try to follow the teachings of Jesus, not what some view as Christianity) believe in mercy, believe in second chances, believe in protecting those who are vulnerable. We do not believe in persecuting or wreaking violence on others for perceived wrongs.

SO, STOP ALREADY. JUST STOP. The problem is not pardons for non-violent offenders or innocent but targeted persons, but the abuse of pardons to reward violent insurrectionists or carry out a vendetta against perceived enemies.