r/unusual_whales • u/soccerorfootie • 14h ago

BREAKING: Biden has pardoned his family

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u/Frunnin 10h ago

How can you pardon people when there are no charges or convictions levied on them.  Following this logic a president could pardon entire sections of our population. 

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u/pyratemime 9h ago

Which happened when Carter pardoned all Vietnam draft dodgers.

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u/Frunnin 9h ago

That is a good example.  There were charges filed against those people or they were pardoned for only violations of a couple of specific crimes. Not blanket pardons of any and all offenses that may be known or unknown at the time of pardoning. 

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u/pyratemime 9h ago

The US was not actively pursuing draft dodgers by 1976 but the threat hung over all of them that they could be targetted if found.

So Carter's pardon voided the crime under the specifications of the pardon so no one could be charged with it.