Why I think it’s time to pardon General Petraeus

President Obama has aggressively wielded his authority under Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution to “grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States…” (mostly for “reprieves” but also for scores of pardons).

The list of those pardoned includes drug dealers, thieves (including an armed robber), a variety of gun offenders, tax cheats, an Iranian hacker, fraudsters of every sort, counterfeiters, conspirators of all kinds (but especially in relation to the most addictive drugs on the planet: heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine) – and, yes, even an adulterer.

In the Washington Times I have an op-ed where I argue that General David Petraeus is also worthy of a pardon of his misdemeanor conviction for violating 18 U.S.C. § 1924  for the “unauthorized removal and retention of classified material.”

As the President very rightly points out in reference to his exercise of his Constitutional prerogative, America is a “nation of second chances.”  If you’d like to see my reasoning as to why now is the time to give General Petraeus his second chance by clearing his record, my essay is here.