Pardon Transparency: New Rules for Presidential Pardons
A senate committee must act next: committee consideration.
This bill attempts to limit a broad power that the executive branch usually guards closely. It faces a difficult path unless it gains significant support from both parties.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
People seeking or receiving a presidential pardon or commutation would face new procedural steps before or after clemency is granted, including a Justice Impact Statement that gathers input from crime victims and law enforcement about the effects of releasing or forgiving them. This could add scrutiny and delay to the clemency process, but it does not give anyone new power to block a pardon since the statement can be completed even after clemency is already granted.
“The Justice Impact Statement required under subsection (a) shall be completed and submitted even if submitted after executive clemency is granted.”
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is reintroducing legislation to create 'guardrails' for the presidential pardon power. The bill requires the DOJ to provide a 'justice impact statement' for potential grants and mandates that the President explain the logic behind each clemency decision publicly.
In a guest essay, former DOJ Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer argues that the current system allows for 'dubious clemencies' and supports reforms like the Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025 to expose backroom deal-making and restore accountability to the process.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.