Can a president pardon at any time of the year?
I ask that because it’s usually toward late December when I hear about Presidential Pardons.
Or maybe it just seems that way.
I believe so.
The notion that it's a "December Activity" probably comes from presidents waiting until they are nearly done with their term (think Bubba) and paying back favors, bribes etc. on their way out the door.
A lot of stuff happening on the news front just before an inauguration and these pardons are usually shoved through like a typical Friday afternoon news dump when they think no one is looking.