Charles Manson never committed murder in the 1st or 2nd degree. After President Richard Nixon and other figures outed Manson as a murderer, the cornered defendants shifted the blame onto him by going along with the popular notion that he was a brainwashing cult leader. The evidence used to convict Manson has been demonstrably proved false by the very witnesses themselves, who have contradicted their testimony numerous times on record. In light of these facts, Manson deserves an absolute pardon, regardless of whether society will affirm his innocence.
Many books have been written about Manson's lack of involvement in the Tate-LaBianca slayings. One such book is the collaborative effort "The Manson Myth: Debunking Helter Skelter and Exposing Lies," which can be read online for free.