Clemency guide
What a Presidential Pardon Can and Cannot Do
Presidential clemency is broad federal power, but it does not erase every consequence, reach state cases or establish innocence.
Four forms of clemency
- A pardon forgives a federal offense and can reduce some continuing federal consequences.
- A commutation reduces a sentence but leaves the conviction in place.
- Remission releases an unpaid criminal fine, restitution obligation or forfeiture when the warrant says so.
- A reprieve delays punishment without permanently forgiving the offense.
The limits that matter
- Presidential clemency reaches offenses against the United States, not state prosecutions.
- It cannot undo impeachment or authorize future crimes.
- A grant is a legal act of mercy or protection, not a judicial finding of innocence.
How to read a grant
Check the official warrant, the offense and sentence, the exact legal effect, and what remains unresolved. Do not infer motive or merit from the existence of a grant alone.