 When an expungement is granted, the person whose record is expunged may, for most purposes, treat the event as if it never occurred.A pardon (also called "executive clemency") does not "erase" the event; rather, it constitutes forgiveness.In the United States, an expungement can be granted only by a judge, while a pardon can be granted only by the President of the United States for federal offenses, and the state governor, certain other state executive officers, or the State Board of Pardons and Paroles (varies from state to state) for state offenses.