Key House Democrat presses for more details on Trump's pardons, alleging "favors" to supporters
Source: CBS News
Updated on: May 30, 2025 / 4:27 PM EDT
The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee is pressing the new U.S. pardon attorney for more details about President Trump's recent pardons, claiming the traditional system of applying for clemency has been replaced with "favors to the President's loyal followers and most generous donors." In a letter to newly appointed pardon attorney Ed Martin, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland asked Martin to "explain the criteria and process" he and his office have used to vet recent pardons by Mr. Trump.
Dozens of people were pardoned this week, including a number of convicted fraudsters, adding to a series of pardons for convicted white-collar criminals in his second term. In some cases, the administration has said pardon recipients were unfairly targeted for being Trump supporters. This week's pardon recipients include reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, convicted on bank fraud and tax evasion charges; former Rep. Michael Grimm, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud and related charges; and former Virginia Sheriff Scott Jenkins, convicted on fraud and bribery charges. Trump also commuted the sentence of one of Chicago's most infamous gangsters and a rapper convicted of felony gun charges.
Some pardon recipients this term — and their family members — have expressed support for Mr. Trump. Electric truck entrepreneur Trevor Milton, who was pardoned on securities fraud charges, donated hundreds of thousands to a pro-Trump committee last year. And the mother of Paul Walczak, who was pardoned last month on tax charges, has helped raise money for Mr. Trump and recently attended a $1 million-a-plate fundraiser, The New York Times reported.
Raskin wrote in his letter that "it at least appears that you are using the Office of the Pardon Attorney to dole out pardons as favors to the President's loyal political followers and most generous donors, completely ignoring and abandoning the thousands of individual applications for clemency in the normal process."
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raskin-presses-on-trumps-pardons-alleging-favors-to-supporters/
Link to House Judiciary Committee Democrats' PRESS RELEASE - Ranking Member Raskin Launches Probe Into Ed Martin’s Role in Trump’s Corrupt Pardon Spree
Link to LETTER (PDF) - https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/UploadedFiles/2025-05-30.Raskin_to_Martin_DOJ_re_Pardons.pdf
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