Kentucky Senate supports constitutional change to restrict end-of-term gubernatorial pardon powers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The GOP-dominated Kentucky Senate endorsed a proposed constitutional change Wednesday to limit a governor's end-of-term pardon powers, reflecting the outrage still burning over pardons granted by the state's last Republican governor on his way out of office in 2019.

The measure seeks to amend the state’s constitution to suspend a governor's ability to grant pardons or commute sentences in the 30 days before a gubernatorial election and the time between the election and inauguration. The restriction essentially amounts to two months of a governor's four-year term.

“This proposed amendment would ensure that a governor is accountable to the voters for his or her actions,” state Sen. Chris McDaniel, the measure's lead sponsor, said in a statement after the Senate vote.

The proposal sailed to Senate passage on a 34-2 tally to advance to the House. Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers. If it wins House approval, the proposal would be placed on the November statewide ballot for voters to decide the issue.