Presidential Pardons are a misuse of the office and make a mockery of our justice system. But that is my opinion.
Presidential pardons are fully constitutional. In fact, they’re just about the only presidential power that has no restrictions on it. The president could constitutionally release every federal prisoner tomorrow, and for that matter pardon those who haven’t even been charged yet.
I read a novel recently where a laws was passed making murder for political reasons a solely federal crime. Then the president just pardoned his supporters who killed any of his opponents. Fully constitutional.
It’s surprising that we haven’t had a truly major scandal yet involving this power, with all its remarkable potential for abuse.