Earlier quoted context omitted.
> part of accepting a pardon is accepting guilt Is that not a commonly misunderstood myth? You do not have to sign anything admitting guilt.
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C1-3... different courts have said different things. the more recent courts have said it only removes the punishment you were still found guilty, so the guilt is still there
Like if a pardon is issued before trial, under normal circumstances the prosecutor will drop charges and the pardonee does not need to accept it. Further, a prosecutor won't go after charges when someone is pardoned.
These are the cases where a pardon wouldn't imply guilt.
But generally speaking, pardons happen after a conviction and not before. Accepting a pardon ends appeals.