PardonGranted 2021-01-19

Steven Benjamin Floyd

Pardon by Donald J. Trump

The Case

Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney

Offense
Bank robbery by extortion
District
Southern District of Mississippi
Original Sentence
30 months (the last six to be served in a halfway house); three years' supervised release; $2,500 fine (January 3, 2008)
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

Steven Benjamin Floyd was convicted of bank robbery by extortion in the Southern District of Mississippi. He was sentenced on January 3, 2008, to 30 months of imprisonment (with the last six months in a halfway house), followed by three years of supervised release and a $2,500 fine.

Pardon Context

A pardon is an act of presidential clemency that forgives the offense and restores civil rights such as voting, firearm possession, and jury service, though the conviction remains part of the historical record. Under Article II of the Constitution, the pardon power is absolute for federal offenses and requires no judicial review or approval from other branches of government. 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.

Read the official DOJ recordOffice of the Pardon Attorney →