Things to get out of the way:

• I know a U.S. president can't pardon state level crimes
• I know the Georgia governor can't pardon state crimes in Georgia

In Georgia a council, appointed by the governor, has the pardon power in the state after it was stripped from GA governors because of corruption in the past.

As far as I'm aware (per coverage of things tonight), that council is all Republican and only has loose self-imposed guidelines/norms about the process by which a person can apply for a pardon.

Why do liberals think this is a slam dunk when that council can seemingly at any time change these rules to the extent of even giving a preemptive pardon? The governor can't replace these people instantly as they're on some x year term scheme.

Is this just more hopeful "the walls are closing in" or am I missing something here?