Re: “Trump commutes sentence of former U.S. Rep. George Santos in federal fraud case” (Oct. 17, Nation):
I was appalled to read of the commutation of George Santos’ sentence, as I have been of some commutations in the past from both parties. I’ve always been baffled at the Founding Fathers’ wisdom in granting the president this extraordinary power. But reflecting on the specter of conviction now facing some political opponents of President Donald Trump (e.g., Letitia James, James Comey), I find consolation that this might some day end up being their savior. Perhaps this is just the sort of political crisis the founders had in mind.
Indeed, as one school of law believes, “Better that ten guilty persons go free than that one innocent person suffer.”
Frank Schumann, Seattle
