Pine State News

Congressman Jared Golden, representing Maine's 2nd district in the U.S. Congress, shared his thoughts on social media regarding presidential powers and post-election conduct. In a series of tweets, Golden expressed concerns about recent political developments and offered his perspective on leadership.

On December 2, 2024, Congressman Golden commented on the power of presidential pardons. He noted that "The unilateral and near-unlimited nature of the pardon makes it one of the most potent powers held by the president, but with great power comes great responsibility."

Continuing his remarks on the same day, he expressed apprehension about potential implications of pardoning close family members. He stated that "As a father, I understand the desire to do everything you can to help and protect your children, but I worry such a sweeping pardon for a close family member sets an unfortunate precedent that undermines trust in the office of the president."

Later that day, Congressman Golden addressed his approach to post-election analysis. He tweeted "I’ve tried to avoid all the post-election prognosticating. I’m skeptical of a media spotlight that encourages elected officials to be pundits, rather than leaders. It’s almost always better to be a workhorse, not a show horse." He also directed readers to further insights available in his latest Substack publication.