Mark A. Milley
Pardon by Joseph R. Biden Jr.
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- For any offenses against the United States, including but not limited to any offenses under the United States Code or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which he may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014, through the date of this pardon arising from or in any manner related to his service as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army or Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- District
- N/A
- 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
This recipient was not convicted of any offense. The pardon covers potential offenses against the United States, including violations of the United States Code or Uniform Code of Military Justice, that may have been committed between January 1, 2014, and the date of the pardon in connection with service as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army or Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. No charges were filed, no trial occurred, and no sentence was imposed.
Pardon Context
A pardon is an act of presidential clemency that forgives federal offenses, whether charged or uncharged. Under Article II of the Constitution, the pardon power is absolute and requires no judicial review or prior conviction. This preemptive pardon shields the recipient from potential future prosecution for covered conduct, effectively closing any possibility of charges related to the specified time period and duties. 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.