David Lamar Clanton
Pardon by Donald J. Trump
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- False, fictitious, or fraudulent claims; aiding and abetting in making false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations
- District
- Northern District of Mississippi
- Original Sentence
- 10 months' imprisonment; three years' supervised release; $123,398.31 restitution (September 20, 1995)
- 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
David Lamar Clanton was convicted in the Northern District of Mississippi of making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims and aiding and abetting in making false statements and representations. He was sentenced on September 20, 1995, to 10 months' imprisonment, three years' supervised release, and ordered to pay $123,398.31 in restitution.
Pardon Context
A pardon is an act of executive clemency that forgives the offense and restores civil rights such as voting, jury service, and firearm ownership, though the conviction itself remains part of the historical record. Unlike a commutation, which only reduces a sentence, a pardon represents official forgiveness and can remove certain legal disabilities associated with the conviction. The pardon power is an absolute constitutional authority under Article II, requiring 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.