Origin
Former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a slew of pardons to his allies and associates before leaving office on Jan. 20, 2021. None of those pardons included himself or his family members. However, some speculated that the beleaguered former commander-in-chief could take steps to protect himself, or those around him, by issuing
secret pardons, where he would not reveal who he had pardoned until later on.
It is possible for a president to issue secret pardons, but it has never been documented before, and legal experts frequently differ on how to interpret the validity of a secret pardon.
The clause in the Constitution granting presidential clemency power does not explicitly restrict the president from issuing secret pardons. It simply says, “he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”