Video & Transcript Research : 'pardons'

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

Corrections Apr 9th, 2025

Corrections

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have Timothy McDonald, who is with the Board of Pardons and Paroles as a resource witness.
  • I am the Chief of Staff with the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
  • Please reconsider the frequency in which the Board of Pardons and Paroles reconsiders inmates for release
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 4/1/25

Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:
  • you'll see, because I always like to look at the actual bill in front of us, that the DOC and courts, pardon
  • you'll see, because I always like to look at the actual bill in front of us, that the DOC and courts, pardon
  • you'll see, because I always like to look at the actual bill in front of us, that the DOC and courts, pardon
  • You'll see because I always like to look at the actual bill in front of us that the DOC and courts, pardon
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/12/25

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:24:41.159> those unite in concluding that pardoning those unite in concluding that pardoning
  • <00:25:27.720> individuals pardoning individuals pardoning individuals none<00:25:29.760> of
  • names formally it was a blanket pardon names formally it was a blanket pardon all<00:27:35.720><
  • Judiciary uh decisions or of the pardon Judiciary uh decisions or of the pardon is<00:34:10.599>
  • <00:45:05.440> and out strongly opposing these Pardons and out strongly opposing these Pardons
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:09:30.000> convicted but quickly following pardons convicted but quickly following pardons
  • <00:09:52.760> Bon's<00:09:53.160> pardons<00:09:53.560> include for a pardon
  • Bon's pardons include for a pardon Bon's pardons include convicted<00:09:54.440> killer<00:09
  • This is the man who was pardoned and will no longer register as a sex offender.
  • <00:14:53.920> should believe that the power to Pardon should believe that the power to Pardon
Summary: The House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs met with a quorum, recognized a student page from Covington Catholic High School, and then took up House Concurrent Resolution 67, sponsored by Representative Emily Callaway. The resolution would create a Kentucky Restoration of Voting Rights Act task force to study restoration of civil and voting rights for people who have served their sentences and shown rehabilitation. Callaway said the task force would include legislators and representatives from state offices and advocacy groups, and she noted the issue should receive serious attention as part of civic participation and reentry. Members asked about differences between the House resolution and a similar Senate measure. Callaway explained that her version was more specific about membership and included state agency representatives and advocacy organizations. Representative Blacket said he preferred the House version and noted expungement had also been discussed. Representative Marzian said she would vote no, arguing the Secretary of State already handles election integrity and that the proposal was unnecessary and costly. Representative Roberts supported the resolution, saying the current process for restoring voting rights can be expensive and lengthy. The resolution passed with favorable consideration. The committee then heard discussion-only testimony on Senate Bill 126 from Senator Chris McDaniel, a proposed constitutional amendment to limit the governor’s pardon power. McDaniel argued the power has been abused and said the amendment would not eliminate pardons, but would restrict them to the 60 days before an election and the period between the gubernatorial election and inauguration so voters could weigh in. He cited high-profile pardons and commutations as examples and said the measure had previously been supported by law enforcement groups. Representative Lockard and another member expressed support, saying pardon power can be undemocratic and that the timing of mass pardons after elections is troubling. McDaniel said the 60-day window was chosen as a practical period for information to reach voters. No vote was taken on the bill, and the meeting adjourned after a visiting district judge was recognized.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:04:19.280> or murderer had a pardon or murderer had a pardon or commutation<00:04:21.040
  • But the power to pardon, especially the power to pardon without an accountability mechanism, allows one
  • But the power to pardon, especially the power to pardon without an accountability mechanism, allows one
  • pardons or not.
  • pardons or not.
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up two bills. Senate Bill 126, sponsored by Senator McDaniel, proposed a constitutional amendment to limit the governor’s pardon power during the final 60 days before a gubernatorial election and through the transition period, with the stated goal of giving voters more time to learn about executive clemency decisions. McDaniel said the measure was intended to increase accountability and noted it would need approval by both chambers and then placement on the 2026 ballot. Senator Haron raised concerns about whether the proposal could chill pardons and asked about the timing; McDaniel responded that 60 days was chosen because of early voting and the need for public notice. The committee adopted a substitute and then passed the bill with a favorable expression; several members voted aye, Senator Haron passed, and Senator Adams later asked to be recorded as voting aye before adjournment. The committee then considered Senate Bill 37, sponsored by Senator Elkins, which would amend Kentucky law on indigent burials to allow cremation as an option instead of requiring burial, and would require consultation with the county coroner before a decision is made. Elkins described it as a local control measure and said he was working with Rabbi Litman on a possible accommodation for Jewish indigent decedents, since the Jewish community strongly prefers burial and has offered to assume costs in those cases. Questions focused on how long officials must make a bona fide effort to notify a spouse or next of kin and whether the bill would affect current practices; Elkins said it would not change existing policy on that point and suggested a possible floor amendment for additional issues. Rabbi Litman testified in support, explaining the religious importance of burial and the community’s concern about cremation. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed with a favorable expression, though Senator Herron and Senator Tichenor expressed reservations and voted no or passed, citing constituent concerns and the possibility that family members may later seek a burial place to visit.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 03/27/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • These pardons were unique. They Trump. These pardons were unique.
  • George Bush II did, during his term, 200 pardons. President Obama did 1,927 pardons.
  • That's who he pardoned.
  • That's who he pardoned.
  • That's who he pardoned. And children. That's who he pardoned.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 04/01/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • did not deserve pardons. did not deserve pardons.
  • > were pardons and commutations were pardons and commutations were proper<00:31:41.919> to<
  • Pardon his own family members, preemptive pardons forever into the future, the biggest number of pardons
  • pardon.
  • President Trump's pardon. They've tried President Trump's pardon.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • caucus has felt strongly that we need to send a message to the President and to the Congress about the pardons
  • I think we got to look at what's going on there with the pardons themselves.
  • I think you saw when President Biden gave all those pardons—I think it was 8,000 pardons—and then President
  • I think we got to look at what's going on there with the pardons themselves.
  • I think you saw when President Biden gave all those pardons—I think it was 8,000 pardons—and then President
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Judiciary Committee Mar 11th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Uh, this puts the bill consistently with the pardons and parole board.
  • And this just gives the pardons parole board the discretion.
  • Well, the pardons board doesn't think they have it.
  • And this just gives the uh pardons jail.
  • Well, the pardons cam already got this.
Keywords: 1136, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Lifetime firearms ban for persons convicted of certain domestic assault offenses 3/10/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • You were saying a pardon. Is that what you're referencing?
  • Pardon<00:04:36.720> me.
  • Pardon me. My brain's fried today. Pardon me.
  • it has to be expuned or pardoned it has to be expuned or pardoned to<00:05:06.320> get<00
  • <00:11:51.040> or same um standard as the the pardon or same um standard as the the pardon
Keywords: 1183, house
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • , that these pardons were unique.
  • , that these pardons were unique.
  • Um I do have a uh an amendment pardons.
  • We saw that that being pardon process.
  • I think pardons. Um this crossed a line.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Judiciary Committee Apr 23rd, 2025

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Again, pardons and parole keep track of that.
  • And so, pardons... ...to pay in restitution. And so, pardons and parole keeps all of that.
  • You get the streamlined pardon.
  • I want you to get a pardon. Pay these off to get a full pardon.
  • I'm going to check with Pardons and Parole... Going to check with Pardons and Parole on this.
Bills: HB265, HB146, SB254, HB202, HB3, HB42, SB18