Trump personally benefits from pardoning Flynn, so the pardon is an abuse of power.

Abusing power is when you use the powers and privileges of your office for self-enrichment, and to subvert the national interests in favor of your own personal interests.

Sound familiar?

1/ https://twitter.com/jessmilbournjr/status/1331450721481310214

If it sounds familiar, it's because that is exactly what Trump was impeached for

https://nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/read-articles-impeachment-against-president-donald-trump-n1099021

Being able to pardon associates who commit crimes, or co-conspirators, or a person who is lying to shield the president is (to say the least) deeply problematic.

2/

Can something be done?
I believe this can (and will) be challenged in court. Who has standing? How it will be done? I need time to think that over.

Meanwhile, Adam Schiff has introduced legislation to make this impossible in the future.
https://schiff.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-democrats-introduce-landmark-reforms-package-the-protecting-our-democracy-act

3/

This is a misunderstanding:
https://twitter.com/n1xnx/status/1331717924042797060

The "except in cases of impeachment" is understood by constitutional scholars to mean that a pardon can't undo or stop an impeachment: A pardon can't restore the standing of someone who has been impeached and removed.

4/

A pardon doesn't require an admission of guilt to go into effect.

It also does not expunge a person's record.

The conviction remains. The pardon simply says that the person has been forgiven and will not be punished.

https://twitter.com/HeadhunterSully/status/1331719516770996225

5/

Alexander Hamilton said the purpose of the pardon power was to mitigate the cruelty of criminal punishments in “unfortunate” cases. (Federalists papers 74)

Fact: 18th century punishments included stuff like hanging, branding, whipping, without "easy access to exceptions.”

6/