Can a US president pardon U.S. citizens that have not been convicted of a crime?
Asked by: Bernita Aufderhar | Last update: June 4, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (17 votes)
A federal pardon can be issued prior to the start of a legal case or inquiry, prior to any indictments being issued, for unspecified offenses, and prior to or after a conviction for a federal crime. President Gerald R. Ford's broad federal pardon of former president Richard M.
On what grounds can a President pardon someone?
Under the Constitution, the President has the authority to grant pardon for federal offenses, including those obtained in the United States District Courts, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and military courts-martial. The President cannot pardon a state criminal offense.
Has Donald Trump pardoned anyone?
Trump issued a total of 144 pardons during his first four years in office: 1 in 2017, 6 in 2018, 11 in 2019, 52 in 2020, and 74 in January 2021.
Does a pardon mean no conviction?
A pardon is an expression of the President's forgiveness. It does not mean you are innocent or expunge your conviction. But it may remove civil disabilities -- such as restrictions on the right to vote, to hold office, or to sit on a jury -- that are imposed because of the pardoned conviction.
Did Barack Obama pardon anyone?
Of the acts of clemency, 1,715 were commutations (including 504 life sentences) and 212 were pardons. Most individuals granted executive clemency by Obama had been convicted on drug charges, and had received lengthy and sometimes mandatory sentences at the height of the war on drugs.
How Presidential Pardons Work | NBC News NOW
Did Bill Clinton pardon anyone?
Clinton issued 140 pardons as well as several commutations on his last day of office, January 20, 2001. When a sentence is commuted, the conviction remains intact; however, the sentence can be altered in a number of ways.
What president did not pardon anyone?
Only two U.S. Presidents never granted any pardons: William Henry Harrison, who died just a month into his term, and James A. Garfield, who was assassinated early in his presidency, leaving neither with enough time to exercise their pardon power.
What crimes cannot be pardoned?
The President of the United States may pardon anyone who commits a federal offense against the United States. They may also pardon anyone who commits a federal offense against the District of Columbia. The president cannot grant pardons for violations of state laws.
Can the president pardon state offenders?
As the federal executive, the president is only permitted to pardon crimes committed against the United States. Put another way, he only has the authority to pardon federal, not state, offenses. The state governor, not the president, is the only one with authority to pardon you for state crimes.
Which President did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?
Several U.S. Presidents did not use a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (used no book at his first swearing-in), and Lyndon B. Johnson (used a Catholic missal), with Calvin Coolidge also noting he didn't use one, adhering to Vermont tradition. The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, allowing for these variations, often signifying a belief in secularism or responding to unique circumstances.
Did Trump pardon Rudy Giuliani?
In April 2024, he was indicted on charges related to the 2020 election in Arizona. He was later disbarred in the state of New York in July, and in the District of Columbia in September. In November 2025, Trump pardoned Giuliani.
How many pardons did Trump give?
List of people granted executive clemency in the second Trump presidency. In his role as the 47th president of the United States (January 20, 2025 – present), Donald Trump granted executive clemency to more than 1,600 individuals as of July 23, 2025, all of whom were charged or convicted of federal criminal offenses.
Can a presidential pardoned felon own a firearm?
Only the President of the United States can grant a pardon for a federal felony, which can restore the right to own firearms. The pardon does not erase the conviction but can lift certain civil restrictions associated with it, including gun rights.
Can the Supreme Court overrule a presidential pardon?
The Pardon Attorney investigates and reviews applications for clemency but serves only an advisory role; the president may disregard the findings. The pardon power is considered "plenary" and thus generally cannot be restricted or modified by Congress or the judiciary.
Are you still a felon if you are pardoned by the president?
With a pardon, the prison sentence ends and the underlying conviction is removed from the record as if it never happened. With a commutation of sentence, the person is granted time served and released from prison but the underlying conviction remains, meaning they will still be a convicted felon.
Can someone refuse a presidential pardon?
6, 2021, on his first day back in the Oval Office. Two of those convicted Jan. 6 rioters declined to accept the presidential pardon. Northeastern University law experts say that a presidential pardon can not only be refused, but it may be practical for some recipients to do so.
Do you still have a record if you get pardoned?
Does a pardon erase a conviction from the record? No. A pardon To release someone from punishment for a crime they were convicted of committing forgives the conviction When someone is declared guilty of a crime by a court but does not erase it from the record.
How many people did Bill Clinton pardon?
As president, Clinton used his power under the U.S. Constitution to grant pardons and clemency to 456 people, thus commuting the sentences of those already convicted of a crime, and obviating a trial for those not yet convicted.
What did Biden actually accomplish during his presidency?
Other domestic legislation signed during his term included the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major federal gun control law in nearly three decades; the CHIPS and Science Act, bolstering the semiconductor and manufacturing industry; the Honoring our PACT Act, expanding health care for US veterans; the ...
Did Trump pardon Charles Kushner?
Yes, Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner (father of Jared Kushner) in December 2020, commuting his sentence for convictions including tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions from 2005. The pardon came in the final days of Trump's presidency and covered charges related to his scheme to intimidate his brother-in-law, who was cooperating with federal investigators.
What crimes can the president not pardon?
The President cannot pardon crimes that have not yet been committed. The President can pardon dead people, and it has been done when a gross miscarriage of justice is recognized years later.
Has a presidential pardon ever been rejected?
In 1914, Woodrow Wilson issued a blanket pardon to the men in a maneuver to force them to testify, because the Fifth Amendment does not apply if the person is immune from prosecution. They refused to accept the pardon or testify.