An incarcerated prison reform advocate is calling for a major expansion of presidential clemency authority.
In an interview with Radio Catskill, Atiq Weston outlined his proposal, the Presidential Pardon Powers Act of 2025, which would allow U.S. presidents to issue pardons for state convictions, not just federal crimes.
Weston spoke from Woodbourne Correctional Facility, arguing that the Constitution’s pardon clause should be interpreted more broadly. He says presidents, as the nation’s highest executive authority, should have clemency power equal to or greater than that of state governors.
He tied the proposal to what he described as systemic problems in state prisons, including inadequate medical care, limited mental health services, and a lack of meaningful avenues for relief. Weston said expanding presidential pardon power could offer incarcerated people an additional path toward review and redemption.
Weston is urging lawmakers, advocacy groups, and the public to review the proposal and consider broader reforms to clemency and prison oversight.