Reference no: EM133627331

Question

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe planned to pardon his son's felony marijuana conviction, arguing he should have the same second chance as other nonviolent offenders. Kyle Beebe, 34, was convicted 10 years earlier of marijuana possession with intent to deliver. He was sentenced to three years of probation, $1,150 in fines and court costs, and had his driver's license suspended for six months. Governor Beebe was the state attorney general when his son was convicted. Two months before Bebee left office he issued more than 700 pardons; only taking office eight years earlier. "I would have done it a long time ago" if his son had asked, "but he took his sweet time about asking," Governor Beebe said. "He was embarrassed."

On the same day he announced the pardon the Governor put on hold plans to pardon 34-year-old Michael Jackson, a childhood friend of his son. Jackson was arrested in an Internet sting for trying to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old girl but turned out to be an undercover police officer. He served a two-year prison sentence for Internet stalking of a child.

Evaluate the moral permissibility of the Arkansas Governor pardoning his own son, as well as his friend.