Opinion | Constitutional law on pardons is clear

In their Sept. 19 op-ed, "Presidential pardon power is not absolute," Laurence H. Tribe and Ron Fein erroneously contended that federal courts would be powerless to protect constitutional rights if the president were empowered to pardon offenders guilty of criminal contempt-of-court orders, such as former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. Violating court orders may be sanctioned by civil contempt, including stiff fines or jail until compliance is forthcoming, which the president may not pardon. Further, the victims of constitutional violations of clearly established law may sue the culprits for compensatory and punitive damages and attorney's fees under federal civil rights laws.

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