Pardon seekers and those lobbying on their behalf have paid allies President Trump
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The Times, quoting documents and interviews with more than three dozen lobbyists and lawyers, reported that the push for pardon has increased as people realized Trump’s challenges ahead of the election would be ineffective and as his presidency has reached its last days.
Former federal prosecutor Brett Tolman, who has advised the Trump administration on pardon, is among those who have raised tens of thousands of dollars in recent weeks to ask the president to lobby several people, including a son of a former Arkansas senator. founder of online drugs. marketplace Silk Road and a Manhattan woman who pleaded guilty to fraud, according to the Times.
The Trump administration has said that Tolman has helped “less connected” individuals gain clemency, and no public records indicate that Tolman was paid for it.
On Twitter on Friday, Tolman said that he “has represented many to obtain leniency. Some have paid clients, many have been pro bono. I am proud of my team’s leniency work. “
John Dowd, Trump’s former personal attorney, has also taken tens of thousands of dollars from clients, including a wealthy sports gambler, noting his close relationship with the president to push for leniency and advise them to discuss Trump’s complaints about the justice system.
Former Trump campaign adviser Karen Giorno was given $ 50,000 to try to get a pardon for John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer convicted of revealing the name of a CIA officer involved in waterboarding an American prisoner. A copy of the agreement obtained by the Times indicates that she would receive a $ 50,000 bonus if Trump pardoned Kiriakou.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump and his administration have handled the pardon system differently from other presidents, benefiting those associated with or able to pay Trump or his allies, pardon lawyers told the Times.
“Off-books like this affect peddling, special privilege system denies attention to the hundreds of ordinary people who obediently queue up as required by Justice Department rules, and is a fundamental violation of the long-standing effort to To at least make this process seem fair, ”former US pardon attorney Margaret Love told the paper.
It is not illegal for allies of the president to be paid to lobby for a pardon, as only offers of payment to the president can be investigated for violating bribery laws. There is no evidence that Trump himself received money in exchange for leniency.
The Times reported earlier this month, Trump had openly spoken of an attempt at that forgive herself and his grown children. Such a pardon would only apply to federal crimes, and it’s unclear whether a self-pardon would hold up when challenged.
The self-forgiveness could come after Trump was impeached last week on charges of inciting violence in the Capitol that resulted in five deaths. The Senate trial will begin after he leaves office.