criminal-law constitutional-law
Plea Deals and Pardon
<p>Assume that a defendant (assume Paul Manafort or other indicted figure in the Mueller investigation) accepts a plea deal that requires their cooperation in related cases.  The terms of the deal are not part of the ultimate sentence, but a condition to lessen their penalties.  </p>

<p>If the President then pardons that person, are they still bound to an obligation to cooperate?</p>

<p>In general, if a defendant fails to fulfill his obligations under the deal, the deal can be voided by the prosecution – meaning that defendant can then be prosecuted (and may not be able to suppress use of statements that he made). But a pardon would trump the government's restored ability to prosecute. Here is a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/atr/case-document/us-v-gregory-l-jackson" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sample federal plea bargain</a>.</p>
