To the Editor:

Re “Trump Exerts His Power With a Spree of Pardons” (front page, Feb. 19):

In my eyes, President Trump’s commutation of the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, former governor of Illinois, is the last straw in a long line of abhorrent transgressions. For years, I have given Mr. Trump the benefit of the doubt. I supported his tax cuts and his attempt to curtail the devastating impact of the authoritarian Chinese state. However, enough is enough.

Mr. Blagojevich attempted to essentially sell former President Barack Obama’s Senate seat. He undermined, in the most heinous fashion, the sacred trust of the American people. Now Mr. Trump has done the same by commuting his sentence.

This madness must end now. The American people have the power to restore dignity and sanity to our governing institutions. We must take a stand against the actions of this president and the threat that he represents to our democratic republic.

Henry J.H. Wilson

Barrington, Ill.

To the Editor:

As someone who has received clemency and has advocated for others who have been convicted of nonviolent drug charges, I support President Trump’s use of his pardon powers. I am hoping that other elected officials who have pardon power follow Mr. Trump’s lead and free deserving individuals who have fallen through the cracks of our criminal justice system.