James Michael Klos
Pardon by Donald J. Trump
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Possession of an unregistered firearm
- District
- Western Pennsylvania
- Original Sentence
- 12 months' probation, conditioned upon 50 hours' community service (September 18, 2006)
- 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
James Michael Klos was convicted in the Western District of Pennsylvania of possession of an unregistered firearm. On September 18, 2006, he was sentenced to 12 months' probation with a condition of completing 50 hours of community service.
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 that may have been lost due to the conviction. Unlike a commutation, which reduces a sentence, a pardon is granted after the sentence has been completed and represents official forgiveness, though the conviction itself remains part of the historical record. Under Article II of the Constitution, the presidential 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.