> We live in a nation of laws

You stopped living in a nation of laws a while ago. Now you live in a nation of might makes right.

That law now officially includes an individual who is immune from the law and who can issue pardons to anyone for anything. So you live in a nation with optional laws.

Laws are only as strong as the enforcement.

One of the things that is being exposed by the current administration is that, even though the Judiciary is an arm of the government, and supposed to provide a check on the Executive, the reality is that the Executive has the power to pardon anyone it sees fit, voiding the power of the judiciary (the argument is that the ultimate power lies with the voters who can pass their judgement on the Executive, and its use of its powers, by voting them out, hopefully)

All the evidence is contrary to your assertion that we live in a nation of laws.

We live in a nation of peers before we live in a nation of laws.