“Schiffty gets a pardon. What’s the crime?”
I hope you are being sarcastic?
There has to be a crime. Was Schiffty a criminal while running for a Senate seat? Those constituents may need to know what that was.
pardon /pär′dn/ transitive verb
To release (a person) from punishment or disfavor for wrongdoing or a fault: synonym: forgive.
“a convicted criminal who was pardoned by the governor.”
Similar: forgive
To allow (an offense or fault) to pass without punishment or disfavor.