[Loud Mime]

I believe the President cannot pardon somebody who has not been convicted of a crime.

Anybody know?

[Radix]

Ford pardoned Nixon who was never convicted of anything.

[Cboldt]

A pardon is technically dependent on a conviction, but as was pointed out, Ford issued a pre-emptive pardon of Nixon.

Jimmy Carter granted amnesty from prosecution to draft dodgers.

The limits of prosecutorial discretion are not defined, and are arbitrary.