Did Barack Obama pardon anyone?
Asked by: Myah Nienow | Last update: July 18, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (47 votes)
Yes, President Barack Obama granted clemency to 1,927 individuals during his two terms in office. This total included 212 formal pardons and 1,715 sentence commutations.
Which President has pardoned more people?
Roosevelt. Democratic president Franklin D. Roosevelt granted 3,687 pardons in his almost 4 terms in office.
Why did Obama pardon so many people?
Obama did so, as one of his final acts in office, in order to reduce what he viewed as overly harsh punishments.
Who was the whistleblower pardoned by Obama?
She was imprisoned from 2010 until 2017, when President Barack Obama commuted her sentence. A trans woman, Manning said in 2013 that she had had a female gender identity since childhood and wanted to be known as Chelsea Manning. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Did Bill Clinton pardon anyone?
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. On January 20, 2001, he pardoned 140 people in the final hours of his presidency.
President Obama makes dad jokes at turkey pardoning
Are you still a felon after a presidential pardon?
A presidential pardon excuses the punishments of a felony, but the crime isn't automatically overturned or erased from one's record. Adam Johnson, photographed with Nancy Pelosi's lectern during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, announced he's running for office in Manatee County.
How many people were pardoned by Trump?
This list included Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and former chief of staff Mark Meadows. NBC News analyzed Trump's pardons for 88 individuals granted through January 20, 2026, and found that more than half of them went to wealthy criminals convicted for white-collar crimes such as money laundering and fraud.
Who refused a presidential pardon?
Wilson, however, refused the pardon. The Supreme Court was thus asked to rule on the case. The decision was that if the prisoner does not accept the pardon, it is not in effect: "A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance.
Are there limits to presidential pardons?
In Ex parte Garland (1867), the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed the "unlimited" nature of federal pardons (except for impeachment cases) and broadened its scope to include offenses for which legal proceedings have not been initiated.
Did Bill Clinton pardon his brother?
Roger Clinton, the president's brother, was pardoned for drug charges after having served the entire sentence more than a decade earlier. Roger Clinton would be charged with drunk driving and disorderly conduct in an unrelated incident within a year of the pardon.
Can anybody override a presidential pardon?
Jump to essay-20Garland, 71 U.S. at 380; see also Schick v. Reed, 419 U.S. 256, 266 (1974) ( [T]he power [of clemency] flows from the Constitution alone, not from any legislative enactments, and... it cannot be modified, abridged, or diminished by the Congress.).
Can a judge overrule a presidential pardon?
A presidential pardon—no matter how controversial—cannot be overturned. The Constitution gives the pardon power to the executive branch alone, not the legislative branch (Congress) or the judicial branch (federal courts, including the Supreme Court).
Does a pardon erase the crime?
The California Constitution gives the Governor the right to pardon someone convicted of a crime in California. A pardon can restore some, but not all, rights lost due to a conviction. It does not erase or seal a record. California Constitution, Article 5, §8.
What are three things a president Cannot do?
A PRESIDENT CANNOT...
declare war. decide how federal money will be spent. interpret laws. choose Cabinet members or Supreme Court Justices without Senate approval.
Can a President pardon someone that hasn't been convicted yet?
Can someone apply for pardon before they are convicted, or sentenced for a federal offense against the United States or before they have finished serving their sentence? Yes. The President can grant pardon to individuals who have not yet been convicted or started serving their sentence.
Who is not eligible for a pardon?
Individuals who have been charged but not yet convicted or whose conviction is under appeal are not yet eligible for pardon. This is a threshold requirement rather than a “disqualification” per se, but in effect, it disqualifies any person without a final conviction.
Did Trump pardon Charles Kushner?
As a convicted felon, he was also disbarred in three states. He later received a pardon issued by his son's father-in-law, President Trump, on December 23, 2020. Kushner has donated significant amounts to Trump's campaigns.
What are the charges against the rioters on January 6?
The January 6th rioters that President Trump pardoned had been convicted—either as the result of a trial or a guilty plea—of criminal felonies that included: seditious conspiracy, assaulting federal officers (including with deadly weapons), civil disorder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of government property (felony ...
Can the President really pardon convicted felons without Congress approval?
Article II of the U.S. Constitution gives the President the power to pardon individuals who have committed federal offenses. The scope of the President's pardon power is broad. He can pardon an individual for nearly any offense against the United States. While broad, the power is not unlimited.
Does a presidential pardon clear you forever?
A pardon does not erase or expunge the record of conviction. It is, however, an indication of forgiveness and should lessen the stigma of conviction. It is usually helpful in obtaining license, bonding or employment.
Do you still have a record if you are pardoned?
A pardon has many benefits, but it does not erase your criminal history. Potential employers will still see the conviction when performing a background check, and the criminal record will appear in all publicly accessible databases.
Can a Supreme Court judge overrule the president?
Yes, the Supreme Court and federal judges can overrule the President by declaring presidential actions, such as executive orders, unconstitutional or illegal. Through judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), the judiciary ensures the president adheres to the Constitution and laws.
What offenses cannot be pardoned?
Under the U.S. Constitution, a president cannot pardon individuals for state-level crimes, nor can they interfere with impeachment cases. Presidential pardons only apply to federal offenses. Furthermore, a president cannot use the pardon power to override constitutional rights or engage in criminal conspiracy, as noted by legal scholars and discussed on Quora.