I Asked Grok about potato's last pardons. Here's the question and Grok's answer:

Can a US president pardon US citizens that have not been suspected of a crime?

The question of whether a U.S. President can pardon individuals who have not even been suspected of a crime goes even further into the realm of speculation about the extent of the pardon power. Here's how this might be analyzed:

Constitutional Text and Interpretation:

The Constitution grants the President the power to pardon "offenses against the United States." The term "offenses" typically implies some act or omission that could be legally actionable. If no suspicion of an offense exists, there's an argument that there's nothing to pardon.

Historical Practice and Precedent:

There are no known historical precedents where a President has pardoned someone who was not at least suspected of a crime. Even in cases like Ford's pardon of Nixon or Carter's pardon of draft evaders, there was a clear context of suspected or admitted wrongdoing.

Legal Scholars' Opinions:

Legal scholars might argue that the pardon power is meant to address actual or potential legal consequences of criminal actions. Pardoning someone not suspected of any crime would stretch the concept of "offenses" beyond its commonly accepted meaning, potentially into absurdity.

Practical and Political Considerations:

Pardoning someone without any suspicion of wrongdoing would likely be seen as an abuse of power or at least highly unusual, potentially leading to legal challenges or political backlash. It could be viewed as undermining the legal system's integrity by preemptively erasing potential future accountability for unknown acts.

Hypothetical Scenarios:

If one were to consider a hypothetical where this might occur, it could involve a broader, symbolic act, like a pardon intended to make a political statement or to clear the path for someone to hold public office without the threat of future investigation for unspecified reasons. However, this would still be legally and politically contentious.

In conclusion, while the Constitution gives broad power to the President in terms of pardons, pardoning someone who has not been suspected of any crime would be unprecedented and likely face significant legal scrutiny. It would challenge the very concept of what a pardon is meant to address. Therefore, based on current understanding and practice, it's highly improbable and legally questionable for a President to issue a pardon in such circumstances. However, the lack of direct jurisprudence means this would be a matter for potential future legal debate should such an action ever be taken.