From high-profile clemencies to its utilization as a political weapon, the use and abuse of the presidential pardon has sparked debate about justice and accountability since the founding of the republic. Most recently, the cases of Hunter Biden and those who stormed the Capitol on January 6th 2021 have reignited debates about the system of pardons, facing both immense public scrutiny and illustrating the fraught nature of potential executive overreach.
The John Adams Institute and the Fulbright Commission the Netherlands are welcoming Kim Wehle, legal scholar, media commentator and best-selling author of How to Read the Constitution—and Why, for a discussion of her latest book, Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works—and Why. In this timely work, Wehle explores one of the more contentious tools of executive power in the United States: the presidential pardon. In a conversation moderated by Kenneth Manusama, she will examine the historical origins, potential political and ethical dilemmas, prominent cases such as Eugene V. Debs, Chelsea Manning and Dinesh DeSouza, as well as the role the executive pardon plays in the American system of checks and balances. Join us for a wide-ranging evening full of insights on this often underestimated tool of federal power, examining its place within the American political system, and even why the symbolic pardoning of turkeys has become a time-honored Thanksgiving tradition.
About the participants
Kim Wehle is an author and tenured law professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is also a legal contributor for ABC News and regularly writes for Politico, The Atlantic, and The Bulwark.
Kenneth Manusama is an international lawyer and America expert. He taught at New York University and Amsterdam University College. Kenneth is a regular guest speaker on Dutch media programs and an expert on the U.S. Constitution and legal aspects of American politics. He is the host of the podcast Amerikaanse Toestanden.
Read, Watch, Listen: Looking for background information in advance of the event? Read George Packer’s latest book, Last Best Hope (2021). Watch Constitution USA with Peter Sagal (2013). Listen to Woody Guthrie’s song This Land is Your Land.
This event is made in collaboration with the Fulbright Commission the Netherlands.
Following the main portion of the event we will announce the winner of our Beyond Academia Contest 2024, a competition that recognizes the work of a number of university students passionate about bringing topics related to the United States closer to the general public. Click here to find out who our finalists are.
John Adams Thinker-in-Residence and Winter Course
In addition to being a visiting U.S. Fulbright Scholar at Leiden University, Kim Wehle will join the Institute as the first-ever John Adams Thinker-in-Residence. Wehle’s research and expertise on the U.S. Supreme Court, the Constitution, and the power of presidential pardons will form the basis of a three-part winter course offered by the John Adams. This limited-enrollment course for circa 20 participants offers the opportunity to dive into topics that are more relevant than ever before. Given the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, the morals and limits of the courts, the Constitution, and executive branch of government will be put to the test, with real-world implications for both American citizens and the rest of the world.
