Republican Lawmaker Backs Constitutional Amendment to Limit Trump’s Use of Presidential Pardons
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the South Lawn before departing the White House on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) announced Monday that he is co-sponsoring a Democrat-led bill to amend the U.S. Constitution and give Congress oversight over presidential pardons. The proposal is widely seen as a response to President Trump’s controversial use of the pardon power.
The bill was introduced last December by Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.). It would allow at least 20 House members and five senators to request a congressional review of a presidential pardon. Once triggered, Congress would have 60 days to overturn the pardon with a two-thirds majority vote — similar to the process used to override a presidential veto.
Olszewski introduced the measure, called the Pardon Integrity Act, in a floor speech where he outlined several of Trump’s most controversial pardons. Among them was a broad pardon for individuals involved in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including those convicted of assaulting police officers.
Olszewski said in his speech, adding: Yet, this is exactly what President Trump did. On his first day back in office, President Trump pardoned 1,500 people involved in the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Since then, he’s pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly 90 others. Just recently, he added former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez to that list. Hernandez was serving a 45-year prison sentence for conspiring to smuggle more than 400 tons or 4.5 billion doses of cocaine into the US. Hernandez was also convicted of accepting bribes from violent drug cartel members to fuel his political career, shielding them from prosecution in exchange for their bribes
Olszewski announced Bacon joining his bill, writing, “The Constitution does not give any president the authority to place themselves above the law. I’m proud to have Congressman Bacon join this effort, because safeguarding democracy and upholding justice should never be a partisan issue. When the pardon power is abused to protect criminals and political allies, Congress has a responsibility to act.”
No more get out of jail free cards for the wealthy and well-connected. pic.twitter.com/kcwDB3RSjy
— Rep. Johnny Olszewski (@RepJohnnyO) December 19, 2025
“This amendment creates a simple and practical check to make sure the pardon power is used fairly and responsibly, no matter who is president,” he said.
Bacon, a former Air Force general who is not running for reelection in his competitive district, said presidential pardons are an important constitutional power. But he argued that, like all executive powers, they should be subject to proper checks and balances. Over several administrations, he said, serious questions have been raised about how the pardon power has been used, while Congress’s ability to oversee it has weakened.
“Honestly, it’s clear to me that the pardon power has been misused,” Bacon said. “I’m proud to support Rep. Olszewski’s Pardon Integrity Act. This constitutional amendment would keep the pardon power in place but add a reasonable safeguard so Congress can do its job and protect the rule of law.”
Bacon backed the measure after Trump pardoned several former NFL players who had been convicted of crimes, including drug trafficking.
He has also introduced a bipartisan bill that would return the authority to impose tariffs solely to Congress, in line with the Constitution’s original intent.
