Trump's gotten a quicker start on that score than his recent predecessors. And he's also bucked the norm of waiting for recommendations from the Justice Department's pardon attorney before granting pardons and commutations.

The president also has generated controversy not just with his pardon process—or lack thereof—but with who's received them. Recipients include lawbreaking ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio and conservative provocateur Dinesh D'Souza.

In the latest episode of Cases and Controversies, Bloomberg Law's Jordan Rubin and Kimberly Robinson break down Trump's clemency practices.