Please correct me if I am wrong, lawyer Freepers, but doesn’t the acceptance of a pardon imply guilt?
The Missouri Justice Dept was bought by George SoreAss years ago.
From that Constitution thingy:
and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States,”
I don’t see anything about guilt or innocence. My understanding is that the President has the power to dictate the governments actions regarding any accusation of having committed a crime. That would seem to include elimination of punitive fines. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that some pardons might leave convictions intact. I don’t believe the President is limited in that way, however.
I don’t recall that Ford’s pardon of Nixon even particularized what crimes might have been committed.