Joe Biden abused a medieval power to pardon his son
The president’s reversal is understandable, humane and wrong
ONe Question facing the framers of America’s constitution was how to check the judges. Part of their answer was the presidential pardon. If it seems a bit medieval to let one man dispense (and dispense with) justice, that is because it is. In British law the “prerogative of mercy” can be traced back to the reign of King Ine of Wessex in the seventh century.
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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Wessex and the White House”
From the December 7th 2024 edition
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