Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said on Monday he’s unsure whether “the extent of the pardons” granted by former President Biden was “necessary.”
Murphy told reporters that he has “real sympathy for the position that Trump has put Biden and his and his family [in].”
“There are real unique threats that are presented to the Biden family by Trump’s obsession with targeting his political opponents.”
But he also said he thinks “it’s probably time for us to take a look at the way the pardon system is being used.”
“I have sympathy for President Biden, but I don’t know that the extent of the pardons he granted was necessary, and I don’t think any of us can be satisfied with the way that Trump or Biden used the pardon authority, one of the most extensive and sweeping executive powers that are available today.”
He added that he is “certainly open to a broader conversation about pardon reform.”
