Marcus Mosiah Garvey
Pardon by Joseph R. Biden Jr.
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Using the mails in a scheme to defraud
- District
- Southern District of New York
- Original Sentence
- Five years' imprisonment; $1,000 fine (June 21, 1923)
- 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
Marcus Mosiah Garvey was convicted in the Southern District of New York of using the mails in a scheme to defraud. He was sentenced on June 21, 1923, to five years' imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.
Pardon Context
A pardon is an act of presidential forgiveness that removes legal penalties and disabilities resulting from a conviction, though the conviction itself remains part of the historical record. Under Article II of the Constitution, the pardon power is absolute and unreviewable by courts. This grant restores civil rights that may have been lost due to the conviction, such as voting rights and the ability to hold public office where felony convictions create barriers. 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.