Sentencing Law and Policy

Meanwhile, this news report from McClatchy Newspapers suggests President Bush in now misrepresenting his pardon power. According to the news report, in "an interview on the Fox television network Wednesday, Bush again said he is bound by strict federal guidelines on pardons and cannot immediately grant a pardon to the two agents." Though the Justice Department has its own internal pardon protocols, there are no legally binding restrictions on the President's pardon power and he can grant a pardon to any and all federal defendants at any time.