Presidential Pardons - when would you call it corrupt?

[hollodero]

The ultimate pardon power of the US president is one example of one person having way too much power. It invites corruption for those willing to go down that way.

Case in point, a president could hire someone to intimidate, beat up or straight out kill someone and then completely legally just pardon him after the deed. Trump could pardon the insurrectionists if he so pleases. Many believe a president could even pardon himself, which is real close to absolute power. What if Trump just killed Comey, as Giuliani suggested, and then pardons himself for it? You seriously don't seem to know what then. Possibly nothing beyond an impeachment attempt.

This, imho, is all quite crazy. In a state of law, pardons should have to pass some kind of independent ethics committee. Also it should be made clear that a president can not pardon anyone he has a personal connection with. Else, it can have the clear appearance of corruption. Eg. Trump pardoning Flynn or Papadopoulos or first and foremost Paul Manafort seems blatantly corrupt and some banana republic stuff. It seems or easily could be a reward for holding still.