Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025
The Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act of 2025 would dramatically expand transparency and accountability around the federal clemency process. It requires the President to publish a written explanation for any executive clemency grant (pardon, commutation, reprieve, or remission of a fine) in the Federal Register and on the White House website. The bill also strengthens victim input and oversight by requiring the Pardon Attorney to prepare a Justice Impact Statement early in the process, detailing victim input and potential effects on ongoing investigations, and by mandating more proactive notification and engagement with victims and law enforcement. In addition, it broadens lobbying disclosure by treating clemency as a trigger for lobbyist registration and reporting, and it creates regular study-and-reporting requirements to track compliance. A severability clause keeps the rest of the act in effect if any provision is struck down.
Key Points
- 1Public disclosure of reasons for clemency: For every grant of executive clemency, the President must publish a written explanation of the reasons in the Federal Register and on the President’s official website.
- 2Enhanced victim involvement and impact analysis: The Pardon Attorney must draft a Justice Impact Statement early in the process (within up to 30 days of learning clemency is being considered) describing efforts to contact victims, victims’ views, and how clemency could affect ongoing investigations or prosecutions; this statement must be completed even if clemency is granted.
- 3Pardon Attorney duties and interagency input: The Pardon Attorney is empowered to collect victims’ written statements, determine victims’ opinions, and consult with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other law enforcement officials regarding potential impacts.
- 4Expanded lobbying disclosures for clemency: Clemmency-related lobbying becomes a trigger for Lobbying Disclosure Act reporting, with lobbyists required to register within 2 days of first clemency-related lobbying contact and to file related reports.
- 5Ongoing studies and reporting: Starting 180 days after enactment and every two years thereafter, the Pardon Attorney will study compliance with the act and report findings and recommendations to Congress by April 1 each year following the study.
- 6Severability: If any provision is found invalid, the rest of the act remains in effect.