Joseph Klecko
Pardon by Donald J. Trump
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Perjury
- District
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Original Sentence
- Three months' imprisonment; two years' supervised release (April 8, 1993)
- 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
Joseph Klecko was convicted of perjury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and sentenced on April 8, 1993, to three months' imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release. The conviction involved making false statements under oath, though the specific circumstances are not detailed in the available records.
Pardon Context
A pardon is an act of presidential clemency that forgives the offense and restores civil rights such as voting, jury service, and firearm ownership, though the conviction remains part of the historical record. Under Article II of the Constitution, the president's 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.