How many pardons did Trump give out in 2020?

Asked by: Trevion Gulgowski  |  Last update: April 22, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (3 votes)

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.

How many pardons did President Trump grant?

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.

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. 

Did Donald 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 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.

Trump pardons Giuliani, other key figures allegedly involved in efforts to overturn 2020 election

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Who did Kim Kardashian get Trump to pardon?

Kim Kardashian advocated for Alice Marie Johnson, a woman serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense, leading to President Donald Trump commuting her sentence in 2018 and later granting her a full pardon in 2020, a case that launched Kardashian's criminal justice reform efforts and eventually led to Johnson's appointment as a "pardon czar". 

How many pardons can a president give out?

A U.S. President can grant an unlimited number of pardons, as the Constitution places no cap on how many acts of clemency can be issued, though they are restricted to federal offenses (not state) and cannot be used in impeachment cases. Presidents have granted thousands of pardons, with some, like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joe Biden, granting significantly more than others, often towards the end of their terms.
 

Why did Trump pardon Desiree Perez?

Donald Trump pardoned Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez in January 2021, citing her decades of rehabilitation, successful career at Roc Nation, and advocacy for criminal justice reform, noting she had fully accounted for her past drug conspiracy conviction and turned her life around. The White House statement emphasized her transformation from her 1994 conviction for drug distribution, highlighting her subsequent employment, leadership, and commitment to positive change. 

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. 

Are you still a felon if you get a presidential pardon?

Although a pardon absolves the pardoned person from guilt, it does not remove the conviction from their criminal record. Carlesi clarified that point by allowing the sentencing judge to consider the past conviction despite a pardon.

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 ...

Can a US President pardon US citizens that have not been convicted of a crime?

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.

What does preemptive pardon mean?

A pre-emptive presidential pardon is a pardon issued by the President of the United States before any legal proceedings have started or before a conviction has been obtained. This means the pardon is granted before an individual has been formally charged or found guilty of a crime.

What crimes cannot be pardoned?

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.

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."

Why did Obama pardon so many?

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. 

How many prisoners has Kim Kardashian freed?

Kim Kardashian helped free 17 inmates in 90 days. The reality star's “90 Days of Freedom” campaign is making a big difference.

Does a pardon erase the crime?

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.

What are Obama's biggest achievements?

Barack Obama's biggest accomplishments include passing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to expand health insurance, leading the economic recovery after the 2008 crisis with stimulus and banking reforms, authorizing the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, enacting climate and clean energy policies, appointing historic Supreme Court justices, and ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the military, enabling openly gay service. 

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. 

Can a President pardon themselves?

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 ).