Right now, when someone is convicted of a crime under Washington D.C.'s own local laws, the power to pardon or reduce their sentence belongs to the U.S. President — not to D.C.'s elected leaders. This bill would change that, shifting clemency authority (pardons, reprieves, commutations, and fine remissions) for D.C.-code offenses to whoever D.C. itself designates by local law. It would not undo any clemency already granted before D.C. passes such a law, and it would apply to crimes committed at any time. The change reflects a longstanding debate over D.C.'s limited self-governance — the city handles its own courts and laws but still depends on Congress and the President for powers that states hold independently.
Congressional Summary
District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act This bill authorizes the District of Columbia to legislate the terms and conditions under which clemency may be granted for violations of District criminal laws. Under the bill, clemency is defined as a pardon, reprieve, or a commutation of a sentence, or a remission of a fine or other financial penalty.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-10-06
- Date Added
- 2026-04-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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