Did Bill Clinton pardon Susan Rosenberg?

Asked by: Aric Boyer  |  Last update: June 29, 2026
Score: 5/5 (36 votes)

No, President Bill Clinton did not pardon Susan Rosenberg; instead, he commuted her prison sentence.

Was Susan Rosenberg pardoned by Bill Clinton?

Release. Rosenberg's sentence was commuted by President Bill Clinton on January 20, 2001, his last day in office, to the more than 16 years' time served. Her commutation produced a wave of criticism by police and New York elected officials.

Who did President Bill Clinton pardon?

Bill Clinton granted 459 pardons and commutations during his presidency (1993–2001). While his total was similar to other two-term presidents like Ronald Reagan, he faced significant controversy for granting 140 pardons on his final day in office (January 20, 2001), a period often called "Pardongate".

Did Bill Clinton pardon Susan McDougal?

In January 2001, in the final hours of his presidency, President Clinton granted McDougal a full pardon.

What was Linda Evans pardoned for?

In a second case, she was sentenced in 1990 to five years in prison for conspiracy and malicious destruction in connection with eight bombings including the 1983 United States Senate bombing. Her sentence was commuted in 2001 by Democrat President Bill Clinton because of its extraordinary length.

Bill Clinton Pardoned Susan Rosenberg of Black Lives Matter, BLM's Patrisse Cullors Origins

37 related questions found

What illness does Linda Evans have?

Linda Evans, known for her role on Dynasty, does not have a widely reported chronic terminal disease, but has faced significant health challenges, including debilitating chronic pain from back issues, severe migraines, and, in 2014, a life-threatening reaction to medication. She previously suffered from hair loss, which she attributed to stress and surgeries.

What did Bill Clinton's brother get pardoned for?

President Bill Clinton granted a controversial pardon to his half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., on January 20, 2001, his final day in office, for a 1985 cocaine possession and trafficking conviction. The pardon was primarily a personal act by the president for his younger brother, who had served one year in prison.

What is Susan McDougal doing now?

Susan McDougal, known for her refusal to testify against Bill Clinton during the 1990s Whitewater investigation, has moved past her legal troubles to become a chaplain and prison reform advocate. Following her imprisonment and subsequent pardon, she built a career in pastoral care and clinical counseling in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Who was the president who lied under oath?

Bill Clinton is the only U.S. president to be impeached for lying under oath. In 1998, he testified before a federal grand jury that he did not have a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, a statement that led to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.

What did Bidens brother do to be pardoned?

He was his brother's chief fundraiser for his 1972 Senate campaign. His financial relationship to members of his family, particularly Joe Biden, made him a subject of Republican-led House committee investigations of the Biden family. He received a preemptive presidential pardon from Joe Biden in January 2025.

Which president gave out the most pardons?

Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record for the most presidential pardons in U.S. history, granting 2,819 over his four terms. Other top issuers include Harry S. Truman (1,913), Dwight D. Eisenhower (1,110), and Woodrow Wilson (1,087). While often focused on specific cases, Roosevelt's high numbers were influenced by his long tenure and numerous Prohibition-era cases.

Which president did not pardon anyone?

Whig president William Henry Harrison was one of only two presidents who issued no pardons, the other being James A. Garfield. This was due to Harrison's death shortly after taking office.

Who did President Obama pardon?

President Obama granted 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations during his presidency (2009–2017), focusing heavily on nonviolent drug offenders and, in his final days, high-profile figures like Gen. James Cartwright and Chelsea Manning. Notable pardons included baseball Hall of Famer Willie McCovey and hotelier Ian Schrager.

Who all did Bill Clinton pardon?

Bill Clinton granted 459 pardons and commutations during his presidency (1993–2001). While his total was similar to other two-term presidents like Ronald Reagan, he faced significant controversy for granting 140 pardons on his final day in office (January 20, 2001), a period often called "Pardongate".

Who cannot be pardoned by the president?

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.

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.

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.

How many pardons has Trump given vs Obama?

As of May 2026, Donald Trump has granted significantly more total clemency (approx. 1,700–1,800) than Barack Obama (1,927 total, but mostly commutations), largely due to mass, early second-term pardons. While Obama granted 1,715 commutations and 212 individual pardons, Trump’s total includes over 1,500 Jan. 6-related pardons and over 144 individual first-term pardons.

Why did Obama pardon so many?

President Obama granted a high volume of clemencies (1,715 commutations and 212 pardons) primarily to correct what he viewed as unjust, outdated, and excessively harsh sentencing laws for nonviolent, low-level drug offenses. His administration focused on reducing mandatory minimum sentences that disproportionately impacted minorities and contributed to mass incarceration.

How many did Biden actually pardon?

President Joe Biden issued 65 individual pardons and thousands of commutations during his presidency.

Can anyone 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).

Did 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.

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.