How many pardons has Trump done?
Asked by: Shania Gleason V | Last update: January 28, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (28 votes)
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.
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.
How many pardons can a US President issue?
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 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.
Did Donald Trump pardon Charles Kushner?
Yes, Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner (father of Jared Kushner) in December 2020, at the end of his first term, for his 2005 conviction on charges including tax evasion, making illegal campaign donations, and witness tampering related to a scheme involving his brother-in-law.
President Trump pardons list of 77 people, including political allies
Has Trump pardoned anyone in 2025?
On January 23, 2025, Trump granted pardons to 24 anti-abortion protesters.
How many pardons has Trump given compared to other presidents?
Number of pardons
Overall, Trump granted fewer clemencies than many of the modern presidents during his first term. 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.
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.
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.
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 ).
Did Biden pardon his brother?
Pardon by Joe Biden
On January 20, 2025, President Joe Biden issued a pardon for James, along with their other siblings and their spouses.
What are Obama's biggest achievements?
The main reforms include: the Affordable Care Act, sometimes referred to as "the ACA" or "Obamacare", the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.
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 ...
Are you still a felon if you get a presidential pardon?
A pardon is an expression of the President's forgiveness. It does not mean you are innocent or expunge your conviction. But it may remove civil disabilities -- such as restrictions on the right to vote, to hold office, or to sit on a jury -- that are imposed because of the pardoned conviction.
Which president started presidential pardons?
George Washington issued the first presidential pardon in 1795 after the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania. There are many different types of clemency that fall under the president's power. They include: pardon, amnesty, commutation, and reprieve.
Can a presidential pardoned felon own a firearm?
A person convicted of a felony, a specified violent crime, or a drug crime loses the right to possess a firearm. This right may be restored by a pardon.
Can anyone overturn 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).
Has anyone ever rejected a presidential pardon?
6, 2021, on his first day back in the Oval Office. Two of those convicted Jan. 6 rioters declined to accept the presidential pardon. Northeastern University law experts say that a presidential pardon can not only be refused, but it may be practical for some recipients to do so.
How many pardons can the president hand out?
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.
Can a president pardon a state crime?
Importantly, presidents can only offer pardons for federal crimes — a relatively small portion of the overall number of people behind bars. However, governors can issue pardons for state criminal convictions.
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 black lady did Trump pardon?
The "Black lady Trump pardon" refers to Alice Marie Johnson, a nonviolent drug offender who served over 21 years of a life sentence before President Trump commuted her sentence in 2018 and granted her a full pardon in 2020, later appointing her as his "pardon czar" to recommend others for clemency. Her case gained significant attention after advocacy from Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, and her subsequent role involved helping Trump identify others for clemency, including rappers and other criminal justice reform cases.
Why did Trump pardon Desiree Perez?
She received a sentence of five years probation, but was later charged with violating her parole. The violation led to nine months in prison in 1999. In 2021, then-president Donald Trump pardoned Perez of the charges, citing her efforts to "turn her life around." Following the pardon, Perez expressed her gratitude.
Why can presidents pardon people?
The presidential pardon power was inspired by a British law meant to protect the unjustly accused. It was for this reason that Federalist Alexander Hamilton advocated successfully for a presidential pardon power that did not require judicial or Senate approval.