Stephen Bannon
Pardon by Donald J. Trump
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud; conspiracy to commit money laundering
- District
- Southern District of New York
- Original Sentence
- N/A
- Clemency Type
- Pardon — full forgiveness, restores civil rights
Case Overview & Context
Plain-English summary of the case and the legal context for this type of clemency
Case Overview
Stephen Bannon was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in the Southern District of New York. No sentence information is available, indicating the case had not proceeded to sentencing when clemency was granted.
Pardon Context
A pardon is an act of presidential clemency that forgives a federal offense and restores civil rights, though the conviction may still appear on records depending on jurisdiction. Under Article II of the Constitution, the presidential pardon power is plenary for federal offenses and requires no judicial review or approval. For fraud and money laundering charges, a pardon eliminates any potential criminal penalties and restores rights such as voting and firearm ownership where they may have been restricted. The president's personal reasoning for this specific grant is not publicly documented.
AI-generated summary based on public clemency records. The president's specific personal reasoning for this grant is not publicly documented.
Constitutional authority: Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the President “Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States.” This power is absolute for federal crimes — Congress cannot override it, and no judicial review is required. The president is not required to publish reasons for individual grants.