From the Center for Investigative Reporting in PRX, this is Reveal.

I'm Alexan.

The House of Representatives has been investigating whether President Trump attempted to influence

a foreign government for his own political gain.

The impeachment inquiry brings back memories of Bill Clinton and before him Richard Nixon,

who under threat of impeachment resigned and was later pardoned.

As it turns out, both the impeachment clause and the pardon power are from the same part

of the Constitution.

When it comes to presidential pardons, Article 2, Section 2, clause 1 says, and he shall

have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States except

in cases of impeachment.

Those 21 words are what this show is all about.

We first heard this episode a few months back and we're revisiting it because suddenly

it has a whole new level of relevance.

In today's English, granting clemency can mean one of two things.

There's a pardon which wipes someone's record clean after they've already left prison.

They get their civil rights back, the right to vote, and even on a firearm.

Then there's a commutation of sentence where the President lets you out of prison, but

you still have a criminal record.

President Trump has granted 15 pardons and many of those cases have been controversial.

The President has decided to pardon Sheriff Joe Arpio of Arizona.

The court held him in criminal contempt for violating a judge's order in a racial profiling

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