All articles tagged with #trump pardon
A Washington, DC judge granted the DOJ’s bid to dismiss cases against nine Oath Keepers tied to the January 6 Capitol attack, tossing out their seditious conspiracy convictions after the defendants were already released under Trump’s pardons; the ruling is framed as an epilogue to the prosecutions and drew criticism from prosecutors and law enforcement.
Rapper Boosie BadAzz paid $600,000 to MAGA lobbyists JM Burkman & Associates to secure a federal Trump pardon for gun charges; the contract allegedly promised a $300,000 refund if no pardon by Jan. 1. After the pardon never materialized and a White House application was denied, Boosie sued to recover half the retainer, citing the signed agreement and ongoing disputes over the process.
Far-right influencer Jake Lang, who was pardoned by President Trump for federal Jan. 6 charges, was arrested in Dallas on a third-degree felony terroristic threats count linked to alleged threats toward a juror in a separate murder trial; Lang has faced multiple legal issues since the insurrection, including recent trespassing arrests in Frisco and vandalism accusations in Minnesota.
Democrats in both chambers have opened an inquiry into whether President Trump's clemency decisions were influenced by money or favors, sending letters to more than a dozen recipients (including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, nursing-home operator Joseph Schwartz, and Nikola founder Trevor Milton) to uncover intermediaries, donations, and communications with officials, and to assess the impact on victims who lost restitution. With Democrats in the minority, subpoenas aren’t available, but oversight could intensify if they win majorities in the upcoming midterms.
Virginia man Brian Cole Jr., accused of placing two pipe bombs outside DC political offices the night before January 6, asked a federal judge to dismiss his case, arguing that President Trump’s broad January 6 clemency should apply to him. Prosecutors say Cole’s conduct was tied to the Capitol events and he has pleaded not guilty to transporting and attempting to use explosives, with FBI data linking his movements to Washington, DC.
A New York lawyer tied to a Donald Trump pardon is charged in Brooklyn with attempted Hobbs Act extortion for allegedly threatening a former client and the client’s son over a roughly $500,000 debt, including directing an enforcer to intimidate them. Nass faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted and was released on a $5 million bond secured by multiple properties and GPS monitoring. Prosecutors note Nass had earlier been paid about $100,000 for advocacy related to executive clemency and Trump’s pardon of Joseph Schwartz, underscoring ongoing questions about lobbying’s role in presidential clemency.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said his four‑month prison sentence for AML controls violations and his Trump‑issued pardon have shifted his outlook. He dismissed any political motive behind the pardon, described becoming “a real free man,” and noted he does not trade crypto, instead taking a long‑term view. Zhao also said he briefly considered acquiring FTX but pulled back due to concerns over financial disclosures. Looking ahead, he suggested bitcoin could break its four‑year cycle and enter a 2026 supercycle, aided by a more pro‑crypto stance from the U.S. and other countries.
Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos founder and fraud convict, reportedly asked President Trump for a commutation to shorten her prison term (she’s slated to serve until 2031). The piece notes Trump’s history of pardons and commutations for fraud-related cases, but a commutation would not erase the restitution Holmes owes (about $452 million), and it remains unclear whether Trump will grant her request.
President Trump pardoned former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced for federal offenses, but the pardon does not include a separate 2025 misdemeanor campaign-finance case (3:25-cr-00296) tied to the bribery indictment, which remains active and undecided. A supplementary document is planned to clarify the pardon, while co-defendants in the original 2022 case have been pardoned separately and the cases have not been dismissed. Legal observers say the situation underscores ambiguities in how pardons are documented and executed, highlighting the need for formal processes.
Todd and Julie Chrisley explain why they did The Masked Singer, address online backlash tied to their Trump pardon, and emphasize they don’t want their lives to be defined by politics. They say they’ve been transparent about their past, plan multiple new projects, and remain focused on family and gratitude as they move forward after their conviction and release.
A former Tennessee lawmaker, Robin Smith, received a reduced sentence to probation after cooperating in a corruption case involving ex-House speaker Glen Casada and aide Cade Cothren, whose prison sentences were pardoned by Trump. Smith's cooperation helped secure convictions, and her sentence was shortened from eight months to one year of probation, with her attorneys seeking a presidential pardon.
Tina Peters, a former Colorado elections clerk convicted of crimes related to false claims about voting machine fraud, is seeking to have her conviction recognized as pardoned by President Trump, arguing that the pardon should release her from prison and negate the court's jurisdiction, though legal experts note that presidential pardons do not extend to state crimes.
Tina Peters, a former Colorado elections clerk convicted of election-related crimes, is challenging the validity of President Trump's pardon in a Colorado appeals court, arguing it should release her from prison, though legal experts say presidential pardons do not extend to state crimes.
Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar announced he will seek reelection as a Democrat after receiving a presidential pardon from Trump, which surprised many and sparked speculation about a party switch or retirement, but Cuellar affirmed his commitment to remain a Democrat and run again.
President Donald Trump announced he will pardon Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar, who was charged with accepting bribes and other crimes, claiming the charges were politically motivated. Cuellar, a moderate Democrat from Texas, maintains his innocence and recently filed for re-election. The case involves allegations of foreign influence and money laundering, but Trump has expressed support, suggesting Cuellar was targeted for speaking out on immigration issues. This is part of Trump's broader pattern of issuing pardons for various political and financial crimes.