Key facts
- President Donald Trump's pardon process has shifted from Justice Department guidelines to a network of personal influencers.
- 96% of Trump's second-term clemency grants went to recipients who did not meet longstanding DOJ criteria.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was mentioned by Trump as an advocate for Trevor Milton, who received a pardon.
- Reuters identified 290 advocates, many of whom are Trump allies, involved in securing clemency.
- Access to Trump's inner circle is now more critical than formal lobbying efforts for pardons.
President Donald Trump's administration has significantly altered the traditional pardon process, moving away from Justice Department guidelines in favor of a personalized network of influencers and advocates, according to a Reuters analysis. Trump himself reportedly told Trevor Milton, an electric-vehicle entrepreneur convicted of fraud, that advisors like U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had convinced him Milton was unfairly prosecuted.
Milton, who received a pardon, did not comment on the exchange or any support he received. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department did not provide specific comments on the report. The White House stated that a rigorous pardon review process is in place, involving the White House counsel and the DOJ, while the DOJ affirmed its role in making consistent and unbiased recommendations.
Reuters' analysis of thousands of records revealed that 96% of Trump's second-term clemency grants went to recipients who did not fulfill longstanding DOJ guidelines, a stark contrast to previous administrations. The investigation identified 290 advocates, many of whom are Trump allies, who publicly or privately assisted in securing clemency for 197 individuals. Some intermediaries with access to Trump's inner circle are reported to charge substantial fees, though Reuters could not confirm specific amounts. In contrast, formal lobbying efforts by two pardon recipients cost $2.7 million, with another $1.9 million spent by 26 others yielding no results, according to lobbying records.
Some individuals familiar with the process noted that access to Trump or his confidants is now more crucial than traditional methods. The informal nature of this influence network makes it difficult to track, with one influencer likening the process to a power struggle within an entourage. Despite concerns about potential negative impacts on Republican chances in upcoming elections, some reports of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles advocating for a slowdown in pardons were disputed by a White House official.