Category: Pardon Abuse

Trump Commutes Meth Dealer Son’s Sentence Amid Crime

President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of James Womack, son of Arkansas Republican Rep. Steve Womack, a longtime Trump ally, on January 17, 2026. Womack had pleaded guilty in 2023 to distributing more than five grams of methamphetamine and was serving an eight-year federal prison sentence. The White House cited humanitarian factors including James’s mother’s cancer diagnosis and his brother’s seizure disorder, along with his clean prison record.

The commutation contradicts Trump’s public tough-on-crime stance, particularly as his administration simultaneously conducts aggressive crackdowns on drug-related offenses and immigration violations. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended recent ICE raids targeting what she called “criminal illegal aliens,” while Trump has publicized the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as evidence of his drug enforcement commitment. Rep. Womack publicly thanked Trump for the “gracious and thoughtful action” the day after the commutation.

Trump’s pardon activity this week extends beyond Womack. The president also pardoned Venezuelan banker Julio Herrera Velutini, who faced bribery and wire fraud charges tied to former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced, whom Trump also pardoned. Herrera’s daughter donated $2.5 million to the Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. during the 2024 election cycle, though White House officials stated the donation played no role in the pardon decision. Trump additionally re-pardoned Adriana Camberos, convicted of running a multimillion-dollar grocery scam, after previously pardoning her for selling counterfeit 5-hour Energy shots.

White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson, herself pardoned by Trump in 2020, announced Friday that the president pardoned 21 people during the week. Trump’s pattern of clemency favoring political allies contradicts his administration’s stated commitment to law enforcement and demonstrates unequal application of justice based on political proximity.

Senate Democrats have condemned the pardon wave as corruption and abuse of executive power. Senator Chris Murphy labeled the clemencies “bread-and-butter corruption” and criticized the president for issuing “audaciously politically toxic pardons” for individuals convicted of serious crimes including drug trafficking and fraud, underscoring the disconnect between Trump’s public rhetoric and his executive actions.

(Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-frees-maga-reps-meth-dealer-son-in-pardon-spree/?utm_medium=socialflow&source=TDB&via=FB_Page&utm_source=facebook_owned_tdb&utm_sf_post_ref=653728041&utm_sf_cserv_ref=37763684202&utm_campaign=owned_social&fbclid=IwdGRleAPY8WlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeVTTo6poU-uaUkpbQTMz7uI-_-MmHzKkUkJa6ZJvNoyzDaMBmlNmlsW7hd0w_aem_KUQOWsxxPl8Bgtfid5RJ5g)

Trump Pardons Puerto Rico Ex-Governor Vázquez in Campaign Finance Case

President Donald Trump intends to pardon former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez, who pleaded guilty in August 2025 to a campaign finance violation involving acceptance of a promised campaign contribution from a foreign source that was never received. Vázquez was set for sentencing later in January, with federal prosecutors seeking one year in prison, though her attorneys argued the sentence violated a prior guilty plea agreement that had resulted in dismissal of bribery and fraud charges.

A White House official stated that Trump views the case as political prosecution, citing the timing of the investigation's initiation approximately ten days after Vázquez endorsed Trump in 2020. The official, speaking anonymously without authorization to disclose the pardon plan publicly, characterized the prosecution as retaliatory rather than justified. Vázquez is a Republican aligned with Puerto Rico's pro-statehood New Progressive Party.

According to authorities, Vázquez allegedly accepted a bribery offer from Venezuelan banker Julio Martín Herrera Velutini and former FBI agent Mark Rossini between December 2019 and June 2020 while serving as governor. In exchange, she demanded the resignation of Puerto Rico's financial institutions commissioner and appointed a new commissioner of Herrera's choosing, actions authorities documented as occurring after the alleged bribery agreement was made.

Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico's congressional representative and member of the opposition Popular Democratic Party, condemned the planned pardon, stating that "impunity protects and fosters corruption" and that the pardon undermines public integrity and faith in justice. Vázquez was the first former Puerto Rico governor to plead guilty to a federal crime and served as the territory's second female governor before losing her party's 2020 primary.

The pardon decision demonstrates Trump's use of executive clemency to benefit political allies, circumventing sentencing for federal prosecutors' recommended penalty. Vázquez's case involved foreign-sourced campaign funding and an abuse of gubernatorial authority to benefit a foreign banker, violations Trump's administration has now chosen to erase through presidential pardon rather than allow judicial process to conclude.

(Source: https://abc7.com/post/trump-pardon-ex-puerto-rico-governor-vzquez-campaign-finance-case-official-says/18417246/)

Trump Tells Jared Polis and Colorado ‘RINO’ to ‘Rot in Hell’

President Trump attacked Colorado Governor Jared Polis and a Republican district attorney in a December 31st Truth Social post, calling Polis a “scumbag” and the DA “disgusting” while telling both to “rot in Hell.” Trump’s outburst targeted officials responsible for prosecuting former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is serving nine years in prison for seven state-level charges related to 2020 election interference, including providing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s associate unauthorized access to county election software.

Trump falsely claimed earlier in December that he had pardoned Peters, stating she was being “relentlessly” targeted for “demanding honest elections.” However, Trump lacks authority to pardon individuals convicted of state-level crimes; Peters’ conviction and imprisonment remain valid regardless of any presidential pardon claim. Trump characterized her prosecution as evidence that Democrats prosecute election-security advocates while ignoring their own alleged mail-in ballot fraud, assertions contradicted by documented fact patterns showing no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Colorado or nationally.

Trump previously weaponized disaster aid to Colorado, denying federal assistance following wildfires and flooding while Governor Polis governed the state. This pattern of targeting Colorado’s Democratic leadership demonstrates Trump’s use of presidential authority to punish political opponents, further illustrating the authoritarian consolidation of power through weaponized governance.

Trump’s attack on a fellow Republican official as a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) reflects his ongoing purge of party members who do not demonstrate absolute loyalty to him personally. His refusal to accept Peters’ lawful conviction—despite her documented actions undermining election integrity through unauthorized system access—prioritizes Trump’s electoral narrative over institutional accountability and rule of law.

The Truth Social post exemplifies Trump’s pattern of attacking state officials and judicial processes when outcomes conflict with his interests, framing legitimate prosecutions as political persecution while simultaneously attempting to overturn state convictions through false pardon claims that carry no legal weight.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-tells-scumbag-governor-and-disgusting-rino-to-rot-in-hell/)

Trump Pardons Leiweke After Golf Talk With Gowdy

President Donald Trump pardoned entertainment executive Timothy Leiweke on Thursday, December 5, 2024, following a November 16 golf outing at Mar-a-Lago with Leiweke’s attorney Trey Gowdy, a former Republican congressman and prosecutor. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump asked Gowdy during the 18-hole round if there was anything he could help with, prompting Gowdy to raise Leiweke’s case and request the president pressure the Justice Department for a non-prosecution deal. Three weeks after the golf meeting, Trump granted the full pardon, directly undermining his own Justice Department’s criminal prosecution.

Leiweke faced charges dating to June 2024 for allegedly rigging the bidding process for a $375 million University of Texas basketball arena contract, conspiring with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’s company and Live Nation CEO Irving Azoff to eliminate competing bids. He pleaded not guilty but faced up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the alleged conspiracy. Azoff, Leiweke’s co-founder at Oak View Group, served as the intermediary in the scheme and received a non-prosecution agreement—the same arrangement Gowdy requested for Leiweke during their golf discussion.

The pardon obstructs a broader Justice Department antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which the department filed in 2023 accusing the merged company of stifling competition and inflating concert ticket prices. Leiweke initially refused to assist the Justice Department during a deposition in this civil case, invoking his right against self-incrimination, though he plans to cooperate once a judge formally dismisses the criminal charges. His pardon eliminates his vulnerability as a witness in the larger antitrust investigation targeting concert industry monopolistic practices.

Gowdy told the Wall Street Journal that Trump asked him to raise the issue and that “whatever decision was made after that, he was elected to make.” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stated Trump “is exercising his constitutional authority to issue” pardons “as he deems necessary,” declining to address the apparent quid pro quo arrangement. Leiweke expressed gratitude for the pardon and announced plans to launch a new company and purchase a sports team, stating “I’m going to do it again.”

Gowdy served as South Carolina’s 4th District congressman from 2011 to 2019 and gained prominence as chairman of the House Benghazi Committee before transitioning to private law practice and Fox News commentary. His direct access to Trump at Mar-a-Lago and the subsequent pardon three weeks later demonstrate how personal connections and informal settings facilitate presidential decisions that directly contradict his administration’s stated prosecutorial priorities and antitrust enforcement objectives.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-timothy-leiweke-pardon-golf-b2879459.html?fbclid=IwdGRleAOjSrZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeFO7mZunqajeq2E5J-nLmWBG6p3_vUWNuoTVzQLTMIXGjU6w1F_hXaZ8PGrM_aem__2Ctf98Rg8QrCwV4xp7K_w)

Trump Pledges Pardon for Corrupt Ex-Honduran President

Donald Trump has announced his intention to grant a full pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence for drug trafficking. This declaration was made via Trump’s platform, Truth Social, where he asserted that Hernández has been treated “harshly and unfairly.”

Hernández, a former U.S. ally, was convicted last year for conspiring with drug cartels and facilitating the movement of significant amounts of cocaine through Honduras destined for the U.S. Prosecutors accused him of accepting millions in bribes which he allegedly used to bolster his political power.

Trump’s backing of Hernández coincides with the Honduran elections and is tied to support for another candidate, Nasry “Tito” Asfura. Trump’s statements on social media suggest that U.S. assistance will depend on Asfura’s electoral success, further entrenching the notion of quid pro quo in U.S.-Honduran relations.

This pardon signals Trump’s willingness to undermine judicial outcomes and restore leaders previously implicated in corruption and drug trafficking—a pattern seen throughout his dealings as president. Hernández’s attorney praised Trump, framing the pardon as a rectification of what they described as political prosecution.

The developments arrive amid heightened U.S. military operations in the Caribbean as part of a broader counter-narcotics effort, further complicating the interplay of U.S. foreign policy and local governance in Honduras.

Justice Department Changes Trump Pardons, Sparks Outrage

The Justice Department recently caused a stir by changing signatures on pardons issued by former President Donald Trump, raising major questions about the integrity of these records. Amid ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s actions during and after his presidency, the Department’s replacement of “identical” signatures on these documents has sparked outrage among critics who view it as yet another attempt to obscure the truth behind Trump’s controversial pardons.

Legal experts have criticized the Department’s actions, arguing that the integrity of judicial processes must be maintained and that any modifications to official records should be met with transparency rather than secrecy. This incident highlights the ongoing issues surrounding the handling of documents from the Trump administration, which has faced repeated allegations of deceit and manipulation.

Among the pardons affected is a case involving a close associate of Trump who faced serious charges during his administration. Trump’s history of pardoning individuals linked to his political interests raises concerns about the misuse of executive power, as these actions appear to be motivated more by a desire to protect allies than by a commitment to justice. Critics have pointed out the troubling pattern of Trump leveraging his position for personal gains rather than upholding the law.

Moreover, Trump’s behavior surrounding pardons aligns with a broader trend of flouting established norms within the White House. Legal scholars assert that these actions not only undermine public trust in presidential pardons but also reflect a deeper disregard for accountability and the rule of law faced by Trump. The Justice Department’s quiet modifications only add to the sense that the former president’s legacy is one of divisiveness and manipulation.

As investigations continue and political tensions escalate, the fallout from Trump’s presidency remains palpable. This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive reforms aimed at ensuring greater oversight and transparency in executive powers. Ultimately, it illuminates the potential dangers of a president who operates outside the bounds of traditional ethics and accountability.

Trump Pardons Boca Raton Woman for Violent Threats Against FBI

A Boca Raton woman, Suzanne Ellen Kaye, has been granted a pardon by President Donald Trump after serving 18 months in prison for threatening FBI agents via social media. This case, stemming from her social media posts during an FBI inquiry into her potential involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack, highlights the troubling patterns of Trump’s pardoning powers being used to benefit individuals associated with extremist behaviors and threats against law enforcement.

Kaye’s social media threats included a video captioned “F*** the FBI,” where she claimed she would use her Second Amendment rights if agents approached her home. Despite her claims that the posts were intended as a joke, she was found guilty and sentenced in a trial that showcased her blatant disregard for law enforcement’s role in maintaining public safety.

After completing her prison time, Kaye received the pardon from Trump, who recast her as a victim of the Biden administration’s Justice Department. Trump’s pardon attorney described this action as part of “unwinding” the supposed damage caused by Biden’s DOJ, portraying Kaye as a martyr rather than someone who menaced federal officials.

This incident reflects a wider trend under Trump’s administration of excusing or forgiving violent rhetoric and actions that threaten democratic institutions. By granting pardons to individuals like Kaye, Trump not only undermines the serious nature of her threats but also signals a continued allegiance with those who challenge the rule of law and threaten FBI personnel.

As Kaye returns to society freed from her sentence, the implications of her pardon raise questions about the accountability of individuals expressing violent sentiments towards the Justice Department. This action may embolden similar threats, further complicating efforts to instill faith in governance and law enforcement.

Trump Pardons Jan. 6 Rioter Again, Encouraging Extremism

In a concerning move, former President Donald Trump issued a second pardon on Friday to Dan Wilson, a Kentucky man previously convicted for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Wilson had been serving a sentence stemming from felony gun charges that were unrelated to the Capitol riot but highlighted his dangerous affiliations with right-wing militias, including the Oath Keepers. This troubling trend of pardoning individuals linked to acts of political violence undermines the rule of law and promotes extremism.

Wilson’s defense attorney celebrated Trump’s actions as an “act of mercy,” suggesting that Wilson’s incarceration was unjust. However, such justifications ignore the severity of the actions taken by Wilson and others like him, who participated in a coordinated attack on democracy itself. This reflects a broader pattern of Trump rewarding loyalty among those who embrace violent tactics to achieve political goals.

The pardoning of Wilson raises significant questions about the implications of Trump’s behavior. Instead of holding accountable those who participated in the January 6 insurrection, Trump continues to support and empower them, effectively signaling that violence against the state is tolerable if it aligns with his interests. This blatant disregard for the consequences of political radicalism and violence goes against the principles of democracy.

This latest pardon follows a disturbing precedent where Trump has used his executive power to shield insurrectionists from accountability. The Justice Department’s involvement in extending such pardons for unrelated charges creates a dangerous environment, where political criminals evade justice through the benevolence of a figurehead who actively undermines democratic institutions.

As Trump continues on this path of promoting violence and loyalty over lawfulness, the potential ramifications for American democracy are dire. The normalization of political violence, particularly from domestic extremist groups, presents an alarming challenge to the nation that must be reckoned with if the ideals of a functional and just democracy are to prevail.

FBI Informant Alexander Smirnov Released Amid Trump Pardon Fears

Alexander Smirnov, an FBI informant previously jailed for lying about a bribery scheme involving the Biden family, has been mysteriously released from prison after serving only a few months of his six-year sentence. Smirnov’s sentence was a result of fabricating evidence linking former President Joe Biden and his son Hunter to corruption related to Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company. His preposterous claims were a critical component of unfounded Republican impeachment inquiries against Biden.

The circumstances of Smirnov’s release raise serious alarm about potential political maneuvering by Donald Trump, with many speculating that a pardon could be in the works. Despite being considered a flight risk due to his ties to Russian intelligence, Smirnov has been on furlough for the last several months, defying expectations of his confinement at FCI Terminal Island, a low-security prison in Los Angeles.

The U.S. Department of Justice has remained conspicuously silent regarding the details surrounding Smirnov’s absence and the nature of his furlough. Inquiries to the DOJ about possible pardon negotiations have been met with a curt “no comment,” fueling fears that the Trump administration could be enabling a corrupt ally. Smirnov’s connections to Trumpworld are undeniable, including business ties to Trump associates and an investment in a company that competed for an app contract ultimately awarded to Trump’s Truth Social.

Legal experts have noted the unusual nature of the DOJ advocating for Smirnov’s release pending appeal, a position that has raised questions about the integrity of the justice system under Trump’s influence. This unexpected and unexplained furlough has led some legal analysts to propose that this could be a calculated move to facilitate an imminent pardon.

While Smirnov’s legal representatives claim the furlough is medically motivated, doubts have been cast on this justification given the extraordinary length of time he has spent away from prison. The lack of transparency surrounding his current status reflects broader concerns about the manipulation of legal processes for political gain, creating a troubling precedent for the Trump administration’s governance.

Trump Pardons Tennessee Speaker Glen Casada

President Donald Trump has pardoned former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his aide, Cade Cothren, both convicted in a federal public corruption case. The White House claimed that the Justice Department over-prosecuted these individuals during Biden’s administration, suggesting that the case revolved around minor infractions. Casada was sentenced to three years, while Cothren faced two and a half years in prison for their roles in a scheme that involved misappropriating taxpayer funds through a mail business.

The pardons underline Trump’s troubling pattern of extending clemency to political allies and individuals embroiled in public corruption, frequently leaning on questionable claims of overreach by the Justice Department. A White House official minimized the offense, stating that the scheme led to a financial loss of less than $5,000, despite the serious legal repercussions including armed raids and hefty prison sentences that are typically reserved for serious fraud cases involving millions.

This trend of leniency towards those with political ties has drawn significant scrutiny and highlights a broader agenda to undermine accountability mechanisms in the government. By pardoning Casada and Cothren, Trump continues to erode the integrity of public trust and law enforcement, reminiscent of past controversial pardons like those for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and New York Congressman Michael Grimm. Such actions reinforce perceptions of preferential treatment within the legal system based on political affiliations.

Casada’s own political career had already suffered significantly due to prior misconduct, including being ousted from his leadership role after engaging in multiple scandals, which included inappropriate communications. Cothren also faced problems related to his conduct, including accusations of using cocaine in a governmental space. Their pardons serve not only as a personal reprieve but also as a broader message about the normalization of misconduct among Trump’s inner circle.

As Trump continues to leverage his power to grant pardons, critics argue this represents a dangerous precedent that threatens democratic norms and holds potential ramifications for political accountability in America. The continuing support for individuals like Casada and Cothren raises concerns about the rule of law and the message it sends regarding acceptable conduct for those in power.

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