Was Susan Rosenberg pardoned?

Asked by: Dr. Kyra Jenkins PhD  |  Last update: February 27, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (69 votes)

Yes, Susan Rosenberg was pardoned by President Bill Clinton on his last day in office, January 20, 2001, for her conviction on weapons and explosives charges related to the May 19 Communist Organization. The pardon was controversial, as she was linked to radical groups, though she was never convicted for the deadly 1981 Brinks robbery, only for the later weapons possession case.

Did Bill Clinton pardon Susan Rosenberg and Linda Evans?

Linda Evans and Susan Rosenberg, members of the radical Weather Underground organization, both had sentences for weapons and explosives charges commuted: Evans served 16 years of her 40-year sentence, and Rosenberg served 16 of her 58 years.

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.

Did Clinton pardon Susan McDougal?

The jury deadlocked 7–5 on the charge of contempt of court and found her not guilty on the charge of obstruction of justice. In January 2001, in the final hours of his presidency, President Clinton granted McDougal a full pardon.

What is Susan Rosenberg's political stance?

From the late 1970s into the mid-1980s, Rosenberg was active in the far-left terrorist May 19th Communist Organization ("M19CO") which, according to a contemporaneous FBI report, "openly advocate[d] the overthrow of the U.S. Government through armed struggle and the use of violence".

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

15 related questions found

What happened to Joel Rosenberg?

There are two prominent figures named Joel Rosenberg: the sci-fi/fantasy author who tragically died in 2011 from heart failure after a respiratory issue, and the contemporary evangelical author and commentator known for his political thrillers and founding The Joshua Fund, who is still active. The death was the science fiction author, while the other Joel Rosenberg (often called Joel C. Rosenberg) continues to write, speak, and lead his ministry. 

Why did the Rosenberg case attract national attention and controversy?

The 1951 trial of Julius Rosenberg, Ethel Rosenberg, and Morton Sobell, Communists accused of conspiring to commit espionage for the Soviet Union, drew worldwide attention at a time of heightened American concerns about nuclear warfare, Soviet aggression, and Communist subversion.

What happened to Jim McDougall?

McDougal reportedly made a deal with the OIC because he said he did not want to die in prison. Though he received an abbreviated sentence, he died of a heart attack at age fifty-seven on March 8, 1998, while being held in solitary confinement in federal prison at Fort Worth.

What is Susan McDougal doing now?

Pardoned by Clinton in 2001, McDougal is working on a book about the women she met while serving her sentence, and she also helps raise money for groups providing assistance to women leaving prison. "We were surprised by Susan," said Thomason.

Did John Forsythe and Linda Evans get along?

Yes, Linda Evans and John Forsythe had an exceptionally close and affectionate relationship, with Forsythe considering her his best friend, a remarkable woman, and a cherished colleague, while Evans deeply respected him, and their bond remained strong until his passing. They developed a strong working and personal connection on Dynasty, often expressing deep admiration and support for each other both on and off-screen. 

Did Ronald Reagan pardon anyone?

MILLER, Edward S. BURLAGE, Robert O. CASEY, George Calvin Jr.

Did Barbara Stanwyck and Linda Evans get along?

Stanwyck was there for Evans during a difficult time.

For Linda Evans, her support system after her mother died was her fellow castmates on The Big Valley, including costar Barbara Stanwyck. Stanwyck was well-loved by both cast and crew alike, who took to calling her "Missy" while on set of The Big Valley.

Did Barack Obama pardon anyone?

On this day, Obama pardoned 64 individuals and commuted the sentence of 209 individuals (109 of whom faced life sentences). These included Chelsea Manning and Oscar López Rivera, enabling them to be released from prison on May 17, 2017.

What president did not pardon anyone?

The two U.S. presidents who never granted a pardon were William Henry Harrison, due to his death just a month into office, and James A. Garfield, who was assassinated early in his term, leaving neither president enough time to issue any. 

Why did Marc Rich get pardoned?

In a February 18, 2001, op-ed essay in The New York Times, Clinton (by then out of office) explained why he had pardoned Rich, noting that U.S. tax professors Bernard Wolfman of the Harvard Law School and Martin Ginsburg of Georgetown University Law Center had concluded that no crime had been committed, and that Rich's ...

Who is the husband of Susan McDougal?

Jim McDougal. James Bert McDougal (August 25, 1940 – March 8, 1998) and his wife, Susan McDougal, were financial partners with Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in the real estate venture that led to the Whitewater political scandal of the 1990s.

What was the Whitewater controversy about?

The Clintons acknowledged that on their 1984 and 1985 tax returns, they had claimed improper tax deductions for interest payments made by the Whitewater Development Company. Due to the age of the mistake, the Clintons were not obligated to rectify the claim, but Bill Clinton announced that they would do so.

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

When the president grants a pardon, it erases any punishment and guilt of the pardoned person. It also restores the civil rights of the pardoned. 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.

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. 

Was Rosenberg guilty?

March 29, 1951: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Convicted of Espionage. On March 29, 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of espionage.

What happened to Rosenberg's children?

After their parents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, were executed for espionage in 1953, their sons, Michael (then 10) and Robert (then 6), were orphaned, adopted by writer Abel and Anne Meeropol, and grew up taking their surname, eventually becoming activists and academics who have spent decades working to clear their mother's name, believing Julius was involved but Ethel was unjustly convicted. Both pursued careers, with Michael becoming an economist and professor, and Robert a lawyer and founder of the Rosenberg Fund for Children, supporting children of activists.
 

What was Roy Cohn's cause of death?

Roy Cohn died from complications related to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in 1986 at the age of 59, though he publicly denied having AIDS, claiming liver cancer and refusing to acknowledge his homosexuality until his death, according to Wikipedia and The New York Times. His death certificate listed cardio-pulmonary arrest as the immediate cause, with dementia and HTLV-3 infection (the virus causing AIDS) as underlying factors, as reported by The New York Times and Wikipedia.