How many pardons can a US president do?
Asked by: Marquis Koelpin | Last update: April 7, 2026Score: 5/5 (63 votes)
There are no limits to how many people the President may pardon. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, for example, pardoned 2,819 individuals during his time in office – more than any other President. President Barack Obama pardoned 212 individuals during his time in office.
How many pardons can a President issue?
A U.S. President can issue an unlimited number of federal pardons, with no cap on the total, though this power has constitutional limits like not applying to impeachment cases or state crimes, and must be for offenses against the U.S. Presidents have used this power extensively, with figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt issuing thousands and recent presidents granting hundreds or over a thousand, demonstrating the vast scope of this authority.
How many pardons has Trump given in his first term?
Number of pardons
Since 1921, only two Presidents granted clemency on fewer occasions than Trump. In Trump's first term, he granted clemency 237 times, compared with about 78 by George H. W. Bush and about 200 by George W. Bush.
How many pardons did Barack Obama hand out?
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.
What crimes 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.
How Presidential Pardons Work | NBC News NOW
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.
How many pardons did Bill Clinton give?
President Bill Clinton granted pardons or commutations to 459 people during his two terms, with a significant number, around 140, issued in a controversial batch on his final day in office in January 2001, bringing his total to a higher number than recent predecessors.
Why does Obama have so many pardons?
President Obama pardoned and commuted many sentences, particularly near the end of his term, to address the harsh, outdated sentencing laws, especially for nonviolent drug offenses, aiming for a fairer, smarter criminal justice system, and to provide second chances to rehabilitated individuals, using clemency as a tool while urging Congress for broader reforms. His actions aimed to correct disparities, reduce prison overcrowding, and encourage states to follow suit with reforms.
Who decides who gets pardoned?
The president may grant pardons on his or her own accord or in response to requests made through the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney. The Pardon Attorney investigates and reviews applications for clemency but serves only an advisory role; the president may disregard the findings.
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.
Has Trump pardoned anyone in 2025?
On January 23, 2025, Trump granted pardons to 24 anti-abortion protesters.
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.
Can Congress limit presidential pardons?
O.L.C. 93, 94 (1986) ( [T]he Constitution gives Congress no authority to legislate a pardon for any particular individual or class of individuals[.] ).
What happens if a pardon is refused?
"A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered, and if it be rejected, we have discovered no power in a court to force it on him."
Can a US president pardon himself?
O.L.C. Supp. 370, 370 (1974) (opining during the Nixon Administration that a President may not pardon himself based on the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case ).
What is the difference between a pardon and clemency?
Clemency is the broad umbrella term for mercy from a criminal conviction, while a pardon is a specific type of clemency that forgives the offense, wiping out most legal consequences and restoring rights, whereas other clemency forms like commutation only reduce the punishment (like sentence length) without forgiving the crime, leaving the conviction on the record. Think of it this way: all pardons are clemency, but not all clemency is a pardon.
Who advises the President on pardons?
The mission of the Office of the Pardon Attorney is to support second chances through clemency for individuals who have been convicted of federal offenses. The Pardon Attorney and staff are responsible for administering the executive clemency process, in accordance with longstanding federal regulations.
Why was Dwight J. Loving pardoned?
On January 17, 2017, three days before leaving office, Obama commuted Loving's death sentence to life imprisonment without parole, "on the condition that Loving shall never have any rights, privileges, claims or benefits arising under the parole and suspension or remission of sentence laws of the United States and the ...
Which president pardoned Mark Rich?
Fearing arrest, he did not even return to the United States to attend his daughter's funeral in 1996. On January 20, 2001, hours before leaving office, U.S. President Bill Clinton granted Rich a controversial presidential pardon.
Can a president pardon someone that hasn't been charged with anything?
Technically, a preemptive pardon is a pardon for a crime that hasn't been committed yet. There is no such thing as a preemptive pardon. Yes. A US president can really pardon someone for any crimes they have committed before charges have been brought.
How many pardons can each president give?
There are no limits to how many people the President may pardon. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, for example, pardoned 2,819 individuals during his time in office – more than any other President. President Barack Obama pardoned 212 individuals during his time in office.
What is the most felon-friendly state?
The most friendly state for felons is Vermont, where no felons are disenfranchised and no voting restrictions.
Can two felons live in the same house?
If you have completed your sentence in full, nobody can restrict who you live with. Two felons can live together without any legal consequences.