The Kentucky Senate has endorsed a proposed constitutional change to limit a governor’s end-of-term pardon powers. The proposal reflects outrage still burning from pardons granted by former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin on his way out of office in 2019. During his final weeks in office, Bevin issued more than 600 pardons and commutations.
The measure would amend Kentucky’s constitution to remove a governor’s ability to grant pardons or commute sentences 30 days before a gubernatorial election. This would also expand to the time between the election and inauguration. The restriction amounts to about two months of a governor's four-year term.
