Why did Obama pardon so many?
Asked by: Magali Stehr | Last update: July 7, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (29 votes)
President Obama granted a high volume of clemencies (1,715 commutations and 212 pardons) primarily to correct what he viewed as unjust, outdated, and excessively harsh sentencing laws for nonviolent, low-level drug offenses. His administration focused on reducing mandatory minimum sentences that disproportionately impacted minorities and contributed to mass incarceration.
Why did Obama pardon so many people?
Obama did so, as one of his final acts in office, in order to reduce what he viewed as overly harsh punishments.
Which president issued the most pardons?
Franklin D. Roosevelt leads all U.S. presidents with 2,819 pardons, followed by Harry S. Truman with 1,913 pardons and Dwight D. Eisenhower with 1,110 pardons. These high numbers are partly due to long tenures in office and mass pardons for offenses like violating Prohibition or draft evasion.
Who was the whistleblower pardoned by Obama?
She was imprisoned from 2010 until 2017, when President Barack Obama commuted her sentence. A trans woman, Manning said in 2013 that she had had a female gender identity since childhood and wanted to be known as Chelsea Manning. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Are you still a felon after a presidential pardon?
Yes, a person who receives a presidential pardon is still technically a convicted felon, as a pardon does not erase the historical record of the conviction, nor does it imply innocence. However, a pardon removes the punishment, restores civil rights (like voting or holding office), and lifts legal disabilities resulting from the conviction.
Presidential pardons explained | Los Angeles Times
Which President never pardoned?
Yes, two U.S. presidents did not issue any pardons or commutations during their time in office: William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield. Both presidents did not grant clemency because their terms were cut short by death shortly after taking office, leaving them no practical opportunity to do so.
How popular was Obama as President?
Barack Obama maintained moderate to high popularity during his presidency, with a two-term average job approval rating of 47.9%. He consistently saw high approval from Democrats (>80%) and low from Republicans, with overall favorability peaking near 76–78% early on and leaving office with a strong 58–59% approval rating.
Did Bill Clinton pardon his brother?
Yes, President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton Jr., on January 20, 2001, his final day in office. The pardon cleared Roger’s 1985 conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, for which he had already served over a year in federal prison.
Does a pardon erase the crime?
The California Constitution gives the Governor the right to pardon someone convicted of a crime in California. A pardon can restore some, but not all, rights lost due to a conviction. It does not erase or seal a record. California Constitution, Article 5, §8.
What are Obama's biggest achievements?
Barack Obama’s major accomplishments span landmark healthcare reform, historic climate and environmental protections, critical economic stabilization following the 2008 financial crisis, the elimination of Osama bin Laden, and the advancement of civil and equal rights.
Did Bill Clinton pardon anyone?
As president, Clinton used his power under the U.S. Constitution to grant pardons and clemency to 456 people, thus commuting the sentences of those already convicted of a crime, and obviating a trial for those not yet convicted. On January 20, 2001, he pardoned 140 people in the final hours of his presidency.
How many people did Obama pardon vs. Trump?
Barack Obama issued exactly 212 individual pardons and 1,715 sentence commutations during his eight years in office. In contrast, Donald Trump has granted clemency to approximately 1,700 people across both his terms, which includes his first-term pardons/commutations and the ~1,500 mass pardons for January 6 defendants.
Who refused a presidential pardon?
Wilson, however, refused the pardon. The Supreme Court was thus asked to rule on the case. The decision was that if the prisoner does not accept the pardon, it is not in effect: "A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance.
Can a pardon restore gun rights?
A full and unconditional pardon generally restores gun rights lost due to a felony conviction, but the scope depends on the jurisdiction. While a pardon often restores state-level rights and lifts federal firearms disabilities, it may not restore rights if the conviction involved a dangerous weapon or if the pardon specifically excludes firearm possession.
What president has the lowest presidential rating?
Harry S. Truman registered a 22% job approval rating (the lowest in Gallup's tracking) in a survey conducted February 9–14, 1952.
Is Obama considered a good president of the United States?
Historians and the public generally view Barack Obama as a successful president, typically ranking him in the upper tier of American leaders, though his legacy remains debated depending on which policies and outcomes are prioritized.
Did Biden ever have a 50% approval rating?
To navigate between years, see opinion polling on the Joe Biden administration. For 2022 opinion polling, see 2022 opinion polling on the Biden administration. Biden's average approval rating was generally over 50% in the first 6 months of his presidency. In late July, his approval rating started to decline.
How many did Biden actually pardon?
President Joe Biden issued 80 individual pardons during his time in office.
Who cannot be pardoned by a president?
The President of the United States cannot pardon individuals for state or local crimes, civil cases, or in cases of impeachment. The pardon power, granted in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, is strictly limited to "offenses against the United States," meaning only federal offenses can be pardoned.
What criminals did Obama pardon?
President Barack Obama granted 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations during his presidency, totaling 1,927 acts of clemency, focusing heavily on nonviolent drug offenders and individuals deemed to have rehabilitated. Notable actions included commuting Chelsea Manning's sentence, pardoning hotelier Ian Schrager and baseball star Willie McCovey, and releasing dozens of individuals serving life sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.
What are the only two limits on the President's pardon power?
The language in the Constitution highlights just two limits to the presidential pardon power. The president's authority extends only to offenses against the United States (federal crimes), meaning state crimes are beyond the president's control. And the president cannot circumvent Congress' power of impeachment.
Can the President really pardon convicted felons without Congress approval?
Article II of the U.S. Constitution gives the President the power to pardon individuals who have committed federal offenses. The scope of the President's pardon power is broad. He can pardon an individual for nearly any offense against the United States. While broad, the power is not unlimited.
Who is not eligible for a pardon?
Individuals who have been charged but not yet convicted or whose conviction is under appeal are not yet eligible for pardon. This is a threshold requirement rather than a “disqualification” per se, but in effect, it disqualifies any person without a final conviction.