My understanding is that one has to be accused of crime or convicted of a crime to receive a presidential pardon. I am not aware of pardons issued before indictments.
> My understanding is that one has to be accused of crime or convicted of a crime to receive a presidential pardon. <
A pardon can be issued for crimes that *might* have been committed. No arrest or conviction is necessary.
As an example, Ford pardoned Nixon for all crimes that Nixon might have committed while he was president.
Richard Nixon?
Ex Parte Garland
...9. The power of pardon conferred by the Constitution upon the President is unlimited except in cases of impeachment. It extends to every offence known to the law, and may be exercised at any time after its commission, either before legal proceedings are taken or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgment. The power is not subject to legislative control...
Carter gave preemptive pardons to all the Vietnam era draft resisters, whether or not their crimes had yet been recognized. Which mean Clinton was pardoned. Andrew Johnson issued fairly broad pardons after Civil War IIRC.