I am writing to urge you to support H.J.Res. 13, the proposed constitutional amendment that would place long-overdue limits on the presidential pardon power — and to call on Senators to introduce and advance a companion resolution without delay.
The pardon power was created as a tool for mercy and justice, not as a shield for corruption. Yet recent history has shown how dangerously vulnerable this power is to abuse when a president can pardon himself, family members, cabinet officials, or campaign staff for crimes connected to their own misconduct or self-interest.
H.J.Res. 13 restores the basic principle that no one is above the law, including the President of the United States. By prohibiting self-pardons and barring pardons for close relatives, senior administration officials, and paid campaign employees, this amendment closes loopholes that undermine public trust andb invite corruption at the highest levels of government.
This is not a partisan issue. Conservatives and liberals alike should agree that the Constitution was never intended to allow a president to erase accountability for himself or his inner circle. The Founders warned explicitly against concentrated power and self-protection by those in office. A president who can pardon himself or his associates is functionally immune from the rule of law — something no republic can survive.
Because this reform requires a constitutional amendment, leadership from both chambers is essential. House members should actively champion H.J.Res. 13, and Senators should introduce and support a matching Senate joint resolution so this proposal can advance through Congress and to the states for ratification.
Congress has a duty not just to respond to abuses after they occur, but to prevent them. Supporting this amendment is a clear, concrete step toward restoring constitutional balance, public confidence, and the rule of law.
I urge you to publicly support this effort and work to see it enacted.
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