Presidential Pardons and Clemency

Rep. Don Bacon (R‑Neb.) has become the first Republican co‑sponsor of Rep. Johnny Olszewski’s proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to nullify presidential pardons, marking a bipartisan effort to limit pardon power. Olszewski tied the push to former President Trump’s pardons of five ex‑NFL players convicted of crimes including perjury, drug trafficking and counterfeiting, and Bacon — a retiring, relatively moderate Republican who has previously bucked Trump on tariffs and emergency‑powers votes — added his backing.