And, you know, what jumped out to me as you read the name on the full list of pardons were some of the people who were vouching for these pardon recipients.
The crisis in Ukraine has brought out their pro-Russian sympathies, most overtly when a motley group of radicals was invited to vouch for Crimea's referendum on rejoining Russia.
For this purpose you should choose people who know you well enough to vouch for your character and ability; and to be polite, you should seek in advance their permission to be named as referees.
Mr Salles is accused of personally vouching for the legal origin of a vast hall of timber worth approximately $25 million despite Brazilian police evidence that it had been illegally logged.
He could just imagine Professor McGonagall's reaction if he was caught trespassing in Professor Umbridge's office mere hours after she had vouched for him . . .