GOP lawmaker joins Democrat-led effort to limit Trump's pardon power

A House GOP lawmaker has become the first member of his party to support a Democrat-led effort to limit presidential pardon power.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., signed on in support of legislation led by Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-Md., to establish a congressional review process for presidential pardons.

It comes after President Donald Trump pardoned five ex-NFL players guilty of various charges including perjury, drug trafficking, and counterfeiting. 

"Across multiple administrations, we’ve seen legitimate questions raised about how this authority has been used at the same time, the ability of Congress to provide oversight has weakened," Bacon said in a statement. "Frankly, it is clear to me the pardon authority has been abused."

JOHNSON ARGUES BIDEN PARDONS 'INVALID' AFTER BOMBSHELL AUTOPEN REPORT

President Donald Trump attends a ceremony in Florida to dedicate the renaming of a 4-mile stretch of Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County to "President Donald J. Trump Boulevard" on Jan. 16, 2026. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

And while Bacon did not mention Trump directly, Olszewski made clear that the Republican commander-in-chief is the main impetus for his push for a new constitutional amendment.

"The announcement follows the Trump Administration’s decision earlier this week to pardon five former NFL players whose charges ranged from perjury to drug trafficking," said Olszewski's press release announcing Bacon's support on Monday. 

"The pardons are part of what Olszewski describes as a disturbing pattern of abuses of the presidential pardon power benefiting the wealthy and well-connected."

BIDEN’S AUTO-PEN PARDONS DISTURBED DOJ BRASS, DOCS SHOW, RAISING QUESTIONS WHETHER THEY ARE LEGALLY BINDING

Rep. Don Bacon arrives for a House Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C.  (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The amendment, if adopted, would give Congress the right to initiate a review process for presidential pardons if called for by 20 House members and five senators.

The review process would end with a vote on whether to nullify the pardon, needing two-thirds' support in both the House and the Senate to succeed. 

The president would then be barred from issuing that same pardon to the same recipient again.

Former President Joe Biden notably took heat from Republicans and even some Democrats when he issued preemptive pardons for his family members and other allies, including son Hunter Biden, shortly before leaving office.

Bacon, a moderate Republican and retired Air Force brigadier general, has already announced he is not seeking re-election in November. 

General view of the inside of MetLife Stadium prior to an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 24, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

He's one of several GOP lawmakers in Congress who have been willing to buck Trump on a variety of issues, including the separation of powers.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

For instance, Bacon was one of a handful of House Republicans who voted with Democrats to terminate Trump's emergency declaration at the northern border, which the president had used to justify imposing tariffs on Canada without congressional approval.

Bacon told Fox News Digital at the time, "It is time for Congress to make its voice heard on tariffs."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not immediately receive a response.