I really want to understand how Americans are OK with Presidential pardons. (Let alone preemptive pardons, which do not compute).

In EU countries, pardons are viewed as extraordinary acts of mercy, reserved for extraordinary cases, and are often subject to legal restrictions or ministerial approval, there is some type of checks and balances to the holder of clemency powers.

In the US, it's like living in a monarchy, 300 years ago. The President-King has the right to pardon anyone they want, and they regularly do it, and they even do it preemptively. It's like, ok, there are laws, but if you are friend (or family) with the President, don't worry.

For comparison, there has been no pardon in France, since 2016, when the French President pardoned Jacqueline Sauvage (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Sauvage_case).

Dad, geek, conversation liquidity provider. vrypan.net (home), /weatherxm (work), @l--o--l (fun). Also https://paragraph.xyz/@purplesubmarine

Have you read the federalist papers to get the perspective of the founders?

No. It's an honest question, I'm trying to understand.

For the record, I get it why a system may grant this power to the President, as a last resort, an escape hatch if everything goes wrong with the rules. What I find impressive is how this power is unbound by typical, political or even cultural restraints in the US. Or at least it feels so to me.

I meant that as an honest answer. It will at least paint how we got here.