Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
Has any US president extended a pardon to a family member?
Sunday, December 6, 2020
By Laura Brickman
Copy link
Copy featured image
YES
At least one U.S. president, Bill Clinton, has used the office's sweeping pardon powers to grant a pardon to a family member. A series of "midnight pardons" by President Clinton during his last hours in office included a pardon of his half-brother Roger Clinton, who had been convicted of a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine in 1985.
In a subsequent congressional probe of Clinton administration pardons, Roger Clinton was investigated for allegedly accepting personal gifts in exchange for pardons and diplomatic passports.
In general, there are few clear constitutional limits on the presidential pardon power, aside from an explicit prohibition on presidents using pardons to immunize themselves from impeachment.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
FACT BRIEF BY
