It feels corrupt. It would not be tolerated in any other first world country.......many countries have official pardons, we do in the U.K., but only after an exhaustive judicial review with a clear and impartial recommendation......
I haven't read the whole thread so maybe someone has said this, apologies if that is so...
Presidential pardon are written in the constitution...I assume in Article 2, but don't recall for sure.
A president has the power to forgive (federal) crimes against the country. The person doesn't have to be innocent of those crimes..see confederate soldiers or Ford's pardon of Nixon.
Whether of not that should be in the constitution is a whole other conversation, but it is legal and every president does it.