Read Time: 2 min 35 sec

Pardons are an act of clemency, a unique power of the president to unilaterally grant mercy or leniency to someone involved—or potentially involved—in a federal crime. 

Under the umbrella of clemency, you have…

Presidents use this power when they believe the justice system has made a mistake, as an acknowledgment of rehabilitation, or in an attempt to promote national healing.

Are there limits?
Yes, but barely.

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution gives presidents the power to pardon any “offences against the United States,” except impeachment. So only federal crimes, not state crimes (see how your state handles those here). They also cannot pardon future crimes.

Other than that, there are no limits. Presidents have pardoned crimes before they’re charged (e.g., Ford’s pardon of Nixon), pardoned large groups of people (e.g., Carter’s pardon of 200,000+ men who evaded the Vietnam draft), and issued pardons posthumously to symbolically clear someone’s name. 

How do you get a pardon? 
The trick is to get on the president’s radar.

If you’re not a big name or close to the president (think: Hunter Biden), you can submit a clemency application to the Office of the Pardon Attorney. They review applications and present them to the president. 

Receiving clemency is exceedingly rare. Over the last 25 years, about 8% of clemency petitions have been approved (see stats by president).

Word count limits kept a lot of nuance out of this article… Want to hear more? Listen to today’s episode of TPO Explains.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
It’s easy to see others' shortcomings and cast ourselves in the right. When we find ourselves grumbling about others, we must remember to check our own hearts.

“Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:3-5 (CSB) (read full passage)

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Xan Sibley | Writer

Righteous Judge, Your justice is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. We were standing among the guilty, among Your enemies, charged with innumerable crimes, and the sentence was set. But You don’t pay us back for what our sins deserve. Remembering Your mercy, make us willing, eager, bursting to extend it to others.

Give the Office of the Pardon Attorney and the President discernment as they review applications. For those who are waiting for clemency, give them humility, true repentance, patience, and reconciliation with You and others. Amen. 

This prayer is an excerpt from our new Sunday newsletter, Praying the News. For more reflection and a prayer about pardons in your inbox tomorrow, subscribe for free here.