What happens to the criminal record of someone pardoned by the federal government?

When someone is pardoned by the federal government, their criminal record does indeed remain on record, but the pardon serves to restore certain civil rights that may have been lost due to the conviction. This includes rights such as the ability to vote, hold public office, and serve on a jury. The key aspect of a federal pardon is that it does not erase or remove the conviction from official records; rather, it is seen as an act of clemency that acknowledges the individual's rehabilitation, allowing them to reintegrate into society with their civil rights restored.

The options regarding complete erasure or sealing from public view do not apply because a federal pardon does not erase the conviction itself; it acknowledges the individual’s new status and potential for reintegration. The option about automatic clearing after a year is also inaccurate, as a pardon is a formal process that does not have a fixed timeline tied to such automatic actions.