[avgDev]

I don't think it is political reasons, seems like it is for large donation reasons.

[lesuorac]

That is a political reason...

It convinces others that you're willing to pardon them too in exchange for money and convincing other people is the definition of politics.

[voganmother42]

It is political, it is also corrupt.

[warkdarrior]

That is not political, it is purely a service offered at a price. There is no specific political agenda behind these pardons (i.e., they don't pardon only folks who are, for example, Evangelicals or anti-immigration or whatever), the only criteria is payment.

[wnevets]

> seems like it is for large donation reasons.

more like large bribe reasons.

[burnt-resistor]

In 2019, Giuliani's assistant chided John Kirakou that pardons couldn't be discussed in his presence but that the fee was $1 million for Giuliani and $1 million for Trump. Given inflation, I'd bet that pardons now cost around $3 million.

[heisenbit]

Money is protected political speech.

[rokkamokka]

In the US, this is much the same thing

[buildsjets]

Is there a difference?

[manquer]

I guess OP means to say it is not idealogical reasons.

Op means to say this type of pardon is not to meant to win votes or satisfy the demands of constituents, Like with convicted cops or people with weed related crimes etc or pardoning draft dodgers after Vietnam or civil war and so on .

While money is involved deeply in politics and financial corruption is there , occasionally idealogical (political) actions without direct financial benefits also happen.

It is hard to say whether this pardon of Silk Road founder was motivated by libertarian, or crypto community pressure or by financial donations to the party etc both are possible even at the same time but they are different considerations