Tag

#pardons

Presidential pardons or commutations of sentences, particularly when issued to political allies, January 6 participants, or individuals convicted of corruption — undermining the rule of law and creating impunity for political violence.

5 incidents

Updated March 25, 2026 Corruption & Self-Dealing
Major Abuse of Power Ongoing

Systematic Pardons of Political Allies and Financial Criminals — $1.3 Billion in Victim Restitution Erased

A systematic pattern of pardons benefiting political allies, donors, and financial criminals. Over half of 88 clemency grants went to white-collar offenders, erasing $1.3 billion in victim restitution. Twenty corrupt politicians were pardoned. The DOJ's Public Integrity Section — responsible for investigating corruption — has been largely dismantled, and the head of the Pardon Attorney's office was fired and replaced with a political loyalist.

Sources
8
pardonscorruptionwhite-collar crimepolitical alliesdonor access
Updated January 20, 2021 Rule of Law
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

First-Term Pardons: Rewarding Allies Who Protected Trump from Prosecution

Trump's end-of-term pardons formed a pattern: the beneficiaries were overwhelmingly personal associates, political allies, or people whose silence or loyalty had protected Trump from prosecutorial pressure. Manafort and Stone had both been convicted in Mueller's investigation. Flynn had pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI. Bannon was under indictment for fraud. The pardons rewarded loyalty and silence — establishing that cooperation with investigators would not be protected, while non-cooperation would be.

Sources
5
pardonsrule-of-lawManafortRoger-StoneFlynn
Updated November 21, 2019 Military Overreach
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

War Criminal Pardons: Gallagher, Lorance, Golsteyn — Undermining Military Justice

The Gallagher case was the most prominent: he had been reported by his own platoon members, who described him as 'freaking evil' and said they feared he would shoot civilians and colleagues. He was convicted by court-martial of posing with a corpse but acquitted of murder after a key prosecution witness changed his testimony. Trump followed the verdict by restoring Gallagher's rank and then, overriding Defense Secretary Esper's objections, blocking the Navy SEALs from removing Gallagher's Trident pin (the insignia of qualification). Navy Secretary Richard Spencer was fired after he sought a compromise with the White House outside normal channels. The pardons were condemned by military ethics experts as undermining the uniform code and the military's commitment to the laws of armed conflict.

Sources
4
war-crimespardonsGallagherLorancefirst-term
Updated January 20, 2021 Corruption & Self-Dealing
Major Abuse of Power

Presidential Pardons: Political Allies and Corrupt Officials Pardoned

Trump issued 143 pardons and commutations, including a final batch of 143 on his last day in office. Analysts documented that a disproportionate share of Trump's pardons went to political allies, relatives of political allies, or individuals whose cases were connected to Trump's political interests. The pardons of Manafort, Stone, Flynn, and Bannon were specifically notable because each had been convicted or charged in connection with conduct related to Trump's political activities, and each received executive clemency. The final day pardons also included Steve Bannon, who was awaiting trial.

Sources
3
pardonscorruptionfirst-termManafortStone
Updated April 18, 2019 Rule of Law
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Mueller Investigation Obstruction: Witness Tampering, McGahn, Flynn Pardon Signal

The Mueller Report documented a sustained pattern of obstruction. Trump ordered McGahn to fire Mueller in June 2017; McGahn refused and prepared to resign. Trump later ordered McGahn to publicly deny having received this order; McGahn refused. Trump publicly praised associates who did not cooperate and attacked those who did. His private communications with Manafort were described in court filings as reassuring Manafort that a pardon was a possibility, potentially discouraging cooperation. Mueller concluded that Congress, not the Special Counsel, was the appropriate institution to address obstruction given OLC policy against indicting a sitting president.

Sources
4
MuellerobstructionMcGahnManafortfirst-term