absolve — If a report or investigation absolves someone from blame or responsibility, it formally states that he or she is not guilty or is not to blame.
acquit — If someone is acquitted of a crime in a court of law, they are formally declared not to have committed the crime.
vindicate — to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like: to vindicate someone's honor.
forgive — to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
pardon — kind indulgence, as in forgiveness of an offense or discourtesy or in tolerance of a distraction or inconvenience: I beg your pardon, but which way is Spruce Street?
exculpate — Show or declare that (someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing.
clear — Something that is clear is easy to understand, see, or hear.
free — enjoying personal rights or liberty, as a person who is not in slavery: a land of free people.
excuse — Attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense); seek to defend or justify.
discharge — to relieve of a charge or load; unload: to discharge a ship.
dismiss — to direct (an assembly of persons) to disperse or go: I dismissed the class early.
exempt — Free from an obligation or liability imposed on others.
justify — to show (an act, claim, statement, etc.) to be just or right: The end does not always justify the means.
disburden — to remove a burden from; rid of a burden.
except — Specify as not included in a category or group; exclude.
liberate — to set free, as from imprisonment or bondage.
