Why Are We Letting Pardons Erase What Courts Ordered Paid to Victims?

I am writing as your constituent to urge you to co-sponsor the Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act (H.R. 9860 / S. 256) and support the bipartisan Pardon Integrity Act constitutional amendment. Executive clemency was established in Article II as an instrument of mercy. Today, it is increasingly utilized to erase court-ordered financial restitution owed directly to victims of crime and American taxpayers. Estimates from the House Judiciary Committee reveal that recent executive pardons have wiped out nearly $1.7 billion in court-ordered restitution, fines, and forfeitures. This includes over $2.6 million in unpaid restitution owed by January 6 defendants, alongside single pardons that erased up to $17.8 million in court-mandated bank repayments. Crime victims relied on those judicial judgments; executive actions dissolved them overnight without explanation. This is also a matter of public safety and law enforcement accountability: - High Recidivism Metrics: Watchdog reporting from CREW reveals that at least 40 pardoned individuals have been re-arrested, charged, or sentenced for subsequent offenses—including child sex crimes—with at least 12 re-offending after receiving executive clemency. - Bypassing Institutional Review: Many of these pardons were issued in mass batches in a single day, entirely bypassing standard Department of Justice review protocols and law enforcement consultations. While Article II provides broad executive clemency authority, Congress holds the Article I responsibility to enforce transparency, protect judicial restitution orders, and propose structural guardrails. Republican Representative Don Bacon, a co-sponsor of the Pardon Integrity Act, stated plainly: "Frankly, it is clear to me the pardon authority has been abused." That is not a partisan sentiment—it is a baseline commitment to the rule of law. I urge you to take immediate legislative action: 1. Co-Sponsor H.R. 9860 / S. 256: Pass the Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act to mandate a public written justification for every pardon, require DOJ Justice Impact Statements incorporating victim and law enforcement input, and enforce strict lobbying disclosures. 2. Support the Bipartisan Pardon Integrity Act: Support the proposed constitutional amendment authorizing Congress to nullify a pardon by a two-thirds vote in both chambers in cases of clear abuse. 3. Convene Restitution Oversight Hearings: Hold congressional hearings examining pardons that erased court-ordered restitution and require the Justice Department to submit an itemized accounting of all wiped-out victim repayments. No crime victim should see a court-ordered judgment erased by political favor. Reclaim congressional oversight and defend the rights of victims.