Jamal Lewis
Pardon by Donald J. Trump
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Use of telephone to facilitate an attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine
- District
- Northern District of Georgia
- Original Sentence
- Four months' imprisonment; one year's supervised release (January 26, 2005)
- 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
Jamal Lewis was convicted in the Northern District of Georgia of using a telephone to facilitate an attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and one year of supervised release on January 26, 2005.
Pardon Context
A pardon is an act of presidential clemency that forgives the offense and restores civil rights such as voting, firearm ownership, and jury service, though the conviction remains part of the recipient's criminal history. 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. For drug-related offenses, a pardon removes legal disabilities and can facilitate employment and professional licensing. 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.