What Is the Highest Number of Pardons by President
The highest number of pardons by president in modern public data is held by Joe Biden, who granted a large batch of federal clemency actions shortly after taking office, including pardons for simple possession of marijuana under federal law. This single clemency event dramatically increased his total federal pardon count and placed him at the top of recent historical comparisons, according to the latest Justice Department records and White House announcements Forbes.
When analysts ask what is the highest number of pardons by president in a single administration, they typically compare the total federal pardon and commutation count at the end of each term. Biden's early clemency push pushed his numbers above recent predecessors, but historical leaders such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman still hold the all-time records for total executive clemency actions over a full presidency.
Who Holds the Record for Most Pardons by President
By total executive clemency actions across all administrations, Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record for most pardons by president, issuing thousands of pardons and commutations during his four terms in office. His high volume reflects the era's large federal caseload, the use of pardons for Prohibition-era offenses, and the broader scope of federal criminal enforcement at the time.
In more recent decades, presidents such as Bill Clinton and Donald Trump used executive clemency frequently before leaving office, with Clinton issuing a notable number of pardons in his final days. Biden's record-setting clemency batch in early 2025 shifted the modern conversation about what is the highest number of pardons by president in a single administration, focusing attention on how a president can reshape federal clemency totals quickly White House.
How Presidential Pardon Counts Are Tracked and Compared
The official federal pardon data comes from the Department of Justice's Office of the Pardon Attorney, which maintains records of applications, recommendations, and final decisions signed by the president. Because commutations, respites, and remissions are separate from pardons, analysts must define whether they are counting only pardons or all forms of executive clemency when ranking what is the highest number of pardons by president.
To compare modern leaders accurately, researchers use DOJ clemency statistics, White House press releases, and data repositories that track each signed executive clemency document by date and offense type. These sources show how a single large clemency event, such as Biden's marijuana pardons, can change a president's standing in the rankings and affect how future administrations approach federal clemency policy Department of Justice.