How many felonies has Trump pardoned?
Asked by: scraper | Last update: July 29, 2026Score: 0/5 (0 votes)
Across both of his presidential terms, Donald Trump has granted executive clemency—including full pardons and sentence commutations—to more than 1,800 convicted federal felons.
Are you still a felon after a presidential pardon?
Yes, legally speaking, you are still considered a convicted felon, as a presidential pardon does not erase or expunge the crime from your criminal record. However, the pardon acts as official forgiveness and restores your civil rights.
How many convicted felons did President Biden pardon?
As of his departure from office on January 20, 2025, President Joe Biden issued a total of 65 individual pardons to people convicted of various nonviolent offenses, according to reports. Additionally, in December 2024, he issued a "full and unconditional pardon" for his son, Hunter Biden, and granted categorical pardons for certain marijuana possession offenses.
Who refused the pardon from Trump?
Pamela Hemphill, a former supporter of Donald Trump who was convicted for her role in the January 6 Capitol riot, notably refused and returned a pardon offered by the former president. She stated that accepting clemency would insult law enforcement and validate false narratives about the 2021 insurrection.
Can anybody override a presidential pardon?
No branch of the U.S. government—including the Supreme Court, Congress, or a future president—can override or revoke a presidential pardon once it has been legally finalized and delivered. The pardon power is absolute under Article II of the Constitution, with only two exceptions:
President Trump pardons list of 77 people, including political allies
What crimes can a president not pardon?
A U.S. president cannot pardon state crimes, violations of local/municipal laws, or individuals who have been impeached. The presidential pardon power is strictly limited to federal offenses (including military courts-martial) and does not extend to civil lawsuits or civil contempt.
What are three things a president Cannot do?
A United States president cannot make laws, declare war, or spend federal money without congressional approval.
Which president never pardoned?
Only two U.S. presidents never issued any pardons: William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield. Both died in office shortly after taking the oath, leaving them without the time or opportunity to grant clemency.
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).
Why did Barack Obama pardon so many people?
Barack Obama issued a large number of commutations—which shorten prison sentences—specifically to rectify unduly harsh mandatory minimum sentences handed down for nonviolent drug offenses during the 1980s and 1990s.
Did Bill Clinton pardon his brother?
Yes, former President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., on January 20, 2001, just hours before leaving office.
Is the first lady a doctor?
No, the current First Lady, Melania Trump, does not hold a doctoral degree.
What was Joe Biden's son convicted of?
Hunter Biden was convicted in June 2024 of three federal felony gun charges for lying about his drug use to purchase a handgun in 2018. He later pleaded guilty in September 2024 to nine additional federal tax charges, including tax evasion and failure to pay taxes. President Biden granted him a full pardon in December 2024.
Can the president really pardon convicted felons without Congress approval?
Yes, the President of the United States can unconditionally pardon convicted felons without any approval or oversight from Congress.
How many people did Biden pardon in jail?
President Biden granted 80 individual pardons and commuted the sentences of 4,165 individuals during his presidency.
Do you have to be found guilty to be pardoned?
No, you do not have to be guilty—or even convicted—to be pardoned, though a pardon is legally interpreted as an act of forgiveness for a crime rather than a declaration of innocence. A pardon can be issued at any time after a crime is committed, including before any charges or convictions occur.
What is the only exception to the president's pardon power?
Constitutional basis
The President ... shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of impeachment.
Are you still a felon if you are pardoned by the president?
A presidential pardon restores civil rights and forgives punishment, but it does not erase the conviction from your record, meaning you are still technically a convicted felon. A pardon signifies forgiveness rather than innocence, allowing you to vote, hold office, and serve on juries, but the historical record of the conviction remains.
Does a pardon erase the crime?
However, a pardon does not remove an offense from a person's criminal record. Instead, the offense and pardon will appear on the person's record. If the pardoned person wants to remove the offense from their record, they must request the court to expunge their record.
Who cannot be pardoned by the president?
The U.S. President cannot pardon individuals for state crimes, civil lawsuits, or cases of impeachment. Additionally, the President cannot pardon someone for crimes before they are committed, nor grant a pardon for foreign crimes.
Who denied Trump's pardon?
Former January 6th defendant Pamela Hemphill (often referred to as "MAGA Granny") made headlines as one of the only individuals to reject a pardon from Donald Trump. She pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for her role in the Capitol riot and stated that accepting the pardon would be lying about her guilt. She explained that accepting it would be a "slap in the face" to the rule of law and the Capitol police.
Can the Supreme Court overturn a presidential pardon?
No, the Supreme Court cannot overturn a legitimately granted presidential pardon.
What rank was Donald Trump in military school?
At the New York Military Academy, Donald Trump reached the rank of cadet captain in his senior year.
Did Obama pardon anyone?
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.
Did Joe Biden ever serve in the military?
In April 1968, he received a draft notice as he was about to graduate from law school; but after a medical examination he was reclassified by the Selective Service System as "1-Y", not available for service except in national emergency, due to having had asthma as a teenager.