Jason Riddle says he rejected pardon because ‘it happened. I did those things, and they weren’t pardonable’
It really is a weird parallel universe I’ve accidentally drifted into last week. I’ve never lived in any version of the United States where convicted criminals had stronger moral values than the POTUS who pardoned them.
But after a week, I think I have enough of this universe. But I’m increasingly concerned that I don’t seem to be sliding back into a normal one…
Find Quinn. He has the timer.
s l i d e r s
I looked, and don’t see the door back.
The way back will come but once. Be steadfast.
Honestly, after the week we’ve had, these kinds of people are who I want to hear about. They learned, regretted, and became better. They give me hope.
There’s a chance that some of this is not as genuine as it seems, sure—Riddle mentions his job prospects here, and one could make an argument for the publicity of doing this. But I’ve had enough negativity for a while, and I’d like to believe it’s honest.
I don’t think job prospects is the reason. Assuming they’re not quite repentent, it’s easier to get a job with a clean criminal record than with a rap sheet and some publicity about feeling remorse. Especially in a Trump world that will hate you for turning against the man who pardoned you.
Nah. I think they’re really repentent, or stupid enough to prefer any publicity - even dangerous publicity, because they’re going to draw the ire of many magats doing this - over anonymous lack of consequences for what they did.
All of the January Sixthers are morons, especially these pardon refusers. Take the pardon and get the charge off your record.
The two that refused the pardons only had very light sentences and misdemeanor charges, so no long term rights losses like with a felony. One had a 90 day sentence and a fine, the other with 60 days and 3 years probation.
The pardon doesn’t do anything for them at this point, and both seem to legitimately regret their involvement and don’t want to act like it was ok. At this point, accepting the pardon only really helps trump.
At this point, accepting the pardon only really helps trump.
How? If the stakes were so low for these two, why are they getting any veneration? Pardons are rare. People hope and pray for them everyday. It’s disgraceful and selfish to reject one.
man shut up, people are capable of learning from a mistake
Fairly certain it doesn’t take it off your record? It just means you get out of the rest of your sentence. You have to admit guilt to accept a pardon IIRC.
Maybe it doesn’t automatically expunge the record, but a pardon does fully restore one’s civil rights. If they were pardoned then they received “…complete forgiveness of a crime and…” had their “…full rights of citizenship” restored.(Source.)
A pardon is an expression of the President’s forgiveness and ordinarily is granted in recognition of the applicant’s acceptance of responsibility for the crime and established good conduct for a significant period of time after conviction or completion of sentence. It does not signify innocence. It does, however, remove civil disabilities – e.g., restrictions on the right to vote, hold state or local office, or sit on a jury – imposed because of the conviction for which pardon is sought, and should lessen the stigma arising from the conviction. It may also be helpful in obtaining licenses, bonding, or employment. (Source.)
In other words, these pardon refusers are self-righteous twerps. Maybe they don’t deserve whatever rights they’ve given up on that basis alone.
ordinarily is granted in recognition of the applicant’s acceptance of responsibility for the crime
Emphasis mine. Trump is not “recognizing acceptance of responsibility,” he outright thinks what they did was good. Accepting his help is to all but say “I did nothing wrong.” You should know that; the people who refused the pardons sure did.
Maybe they don’t deserve whatever rights they’ve given up on that basis alone.
That sure is one hell of a nasty statement.
Trump is not “recognizing acceptance of responsibility,” he outright thinks what they did was good.
Lol so what?
Accepting his help is to all but say “I did nothing wrong.”
How? Is it not possible to accept a pardon while admitting culpability and accepting responsibility? To say that it isn’t in to contradict the explanation I found on the justice.gov site.
That sure is one hell of a nasty statement.
Like I said, the January Sixthers are all morons. These pardon refusers are just the least sympathetic of them. So many people hope and pray for a pardon everyday. It’s incredibly selfish to reject one.
Lol so what?
He’s the President. Him giving the pardons directly contradicts the idea that the pardons are given “in recognition of the applicant’s acceptance of responsibility,” rendering that portion of your source irrelevant.
Those who’re refusing his pardon are the most respectable and sympathetic of them, because they are choosing to stand up for their principles and own up to their mistakes rather than accept a convenient get-out-of-jail-free card that nobody should’ve gotten to begin with. There is nothing whatsoever that is selfish about that, and suggesting they deserve to lose their rights as a result is outright cruel.
