Former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a series of pardons and commutations during his time in office. These actions have been the subject of much debate, with some arguing that they were an abuse of power and others maintaining that they were justified.
This article provides a comprehensive list of all the individuals pardoned or granted clemency by President Trump, as well as an analysis of the reasons behind these decisions. We will also examine the legal and political implications of these actions, and consider their impact on the American justice system.
President Trump's pardons and commutations have been a controversial topic throughout his presidency. Critics have accused him of using his pardon power to reward political allies and cronies, while supporters have argued that he was simply exercising his constitutional authority to show mercy to those who deserved it.
who did trump pardon
Former President's controversial pardons.
- Political allies
- Family members
- Campaign associates
- Celebrities
- Law enforcement officers
- War criminals
- White-collar criminals
- Nonviolent drug offenders
- People convicted of public corruption
Trump's pardons drew criticism and legal challenges.
Political allies
President Trump granted clemency to a number of his political allies, including former campaign associates and administration officials who had been convicted of various crimes.
- Roger Stone
A longtime Trump adviser who was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. Trump commuted Stone's sentence in July 2020, just days before he was due to report to prison.
- Michael Flynn
Trump's first National Security Adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 election. Trump pardoned Flynn in November 2020, after the Justice Department moved to drop the charges against him.
- Paul Manafort
Trump's former campaign chairman, who was convicted of bank fraud and tax fraud. Trump pardoned Manafort in December 2020, after he had served less than two years of his seven-year sentence.
- George Papadopoulos
A former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials. Trump pardoned Papadopoulos in December 2020.
Trump's decision to pardon these individuals was met with widespread criticism, with many accusing him of abusing his power to protect his friends and associates.
Family members
President Trump also granted clemency to several members of his own family, including his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort.
- Jared Kushner
Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, who was pardoned in the final hours of Trump's presidency. Kushner had been investigated for his role in Trump's Russia dealings, but was never charged with any crimes.
- Paul Manafort
Trump's former campaign chairman, who was convicted of bank fraud and tax fraud. Trump pardoned Manafort in December 2020, after he had served less than two years of his seven-year sentence.
- Charles Kushner
Jared Kushner's father and a major Republican donor, who was convicted of tax evasion, witness tampering, and making illegal campaign contributions. Trump pardoned Charles Kushner in December 2020.
- Michael Flynn
Trump's first National Security Adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 election. Flynn is married to Lori Flynn, who is a sister of Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump, who is Donald Trump's son. Trump pardoned Flynn in November 2020, after the Justice Department moved to drop the charges against him.
Trump's decision to pardon his family members was met with widespread criticism, with many accusing him of nepotism and abuse of power.
Campaign associates
President Trump also granted clemency to a number of his campaign associates who had been convicted of various crimes related to the 2016 election.
- Roger Stone
A longtime Trump adviser who was convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. Trump commuted Stone's sentence in July 2020, just days before he was due to report to prison.
- Paul Manafort
Trump's former campaign chairman, who was convicted of bank fraud and tax fraud. Trump pardoned Manafort in December 2020, after he had served less than two years of his seven-year sentence.
- George Papadopoulos
A former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials. Trump pardoned Papadopoulos in December 2020.
- Michael Flynn
Trump's first National Security Adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 election. Trump pardoned Flynn in November 2020, after the Justice Department moved to drop the charges against him.
Trump's decision to pardon these individuals was met with widespread criticism, with many accusing him of obstructing justice and undermining the rule of law.
Celebrities
President Trump also granted clemency to a number of celebrities, including rappers, athletes, and reality TV stars.
One of the most controversial pardons was that of rapper Lil Wayne, who was facing a 10-year prison sentence on gun possession charges. Trump pardoned Lil Wayne in January 2021, just days before leaving office. Critics accused Trump of using his pardon power to reward his celebrity friends and supporters.
Trump also pardoned Kodak Black, another rapper who was serving a 46-month sentence for weapons violations. Black's pardon was supported by several celebrities, including Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. However, many people criticized Trump for pardoning Black, who had a history of violence and misogyny.
In addition to rappers, Trump also pardoned several athletes, including former NFL player Joe Exotic, who was convicted of animal abuse and murder-for-hire. Exotic's case gained national attention after it was featured in the Netflix documentary series "Tiger King." Trump pardoned Exotic in January 2021, citing his declining health.
Trump's decision to pardon celebrities was met with mixed reactions. Some people praised Trump for using his pardon power to show mercy to individuals who they believed deserved a second chance. Others criticized Trump for abusing his power and using pardons to reward his friends and supporters.
Regardless of one's opinion on Trump's use of the pardon power, it is clear that his actions had a significant impact on the lives of the individuals he pardoned. Some of these individuals were able to rebuild their lives and careers after being pardoned, while others continued to struggle with the consequences of their past actions.
Law enforcement officers
President Trump also granted clemency to a number of law enforcement officers who had been convicted of various crimes.
- Joe Arpaio
A former sheriff in Arizona who was convicted of criminal contempt for defying a court order to stop racial profiling. Trump pardoned Arpaio in August 2017, just a few months after he was convicted.
- Michael Behenna
A former Army lieutenant who was convicted of murdering an Iraqi prisoner in 2008. Trump pardoned Behenna in May 2019, after he had served 10 years of his 25-year sentence.
- Clint Lorance
A former Army major who was convicted of murder for ordering his troops to fire on unarmed Afghan civilians in 2012. Trump pardoned Lorance in November 2019, after he had served six years of his 19-year sentence.
- Edward Gallagher
A former Navy SEAL who was convicted of war crimes, including murder and attempted murder. Trump pardoned Gallagher in November 2019, after he had served nine months of his seven-year sentence.
Trump's decision to pardon these individuals was met with widespread criticism, with many accusing him of undermining the rule of law and sending a message that law enforcement officers are above the law. Some critics also argued that Trump's pardons were racially motivated, as all of the individuals he pardoned were white.
War criminals
President Trump granted clemency to a number of individuals who had been convicted of war crimes or other serious offenses related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Michael Behenna
A former Army lieutenant who was convicted of murdering an Iraqi prisoner in 2008. Trump pardoned Behenna in May 2019, after he had served 10 years of his 25-year sentence.
- Clint Lorance
A former Army major who was convicted of murder for ordering his troops to fire on unarmed Afghan civilians in 2012. Trump pardoned Lorance in November 2019, after he had served six years of his 19-year sentence.
- Edward Gallagher
A former Navy SEAL who was convicted of war crimes, including murder and attempted murder. Trump pardoned Gallagher in November 2019, after he had served nine months of his seven-year sentence.
- Roy Urbina
A former Marine Corps major who was convicted of killing an unarmed Iraqi civilian in 2004. Trump pardoned Urbina in January 2021, just days before leaving office.
Trump's decision to pardon these individuals was met with widespread criticism, with many accusing him of undermining the rule of law and sending a message that war criminals are above the law. Some critics also argued that Trump's pardons were racially motivated, as all of the individuals he pardoned were white.
White-collar criminals
President Trump also granted clemency to a number of individuals who had been convicted of white-collar crimes, such as fraud, tax evasion, and insider trading.
- Michael Milken
A former Wall Street financier who was convicted of racketeering and securities fraud in 1990. Trump pardoned Milken in February 2020, after he had served two years of his 10-year sentence.
- Bernard Kerik
A former New York City police commissioner who was convicted of tax fraud and lying to the government in 2010. Trump pardoned Kerik in February 2020, after he had served three years of his four-year sentence.
- Rod Blagojevich
A former governor of Illinois who was convicted of corruption in 2011. Trump commuted Blagojevich's 14-year sentence in February 2020, after he had served eight years.
- Charles Kushner
The father of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, was convicted of tax evasion, witness tampering, and making illegal campaign contributions in 2005. Trump pardoned Charles Kushner in December 2020, after he had served two years of his two-year sentence.
Trump's decision to pardon these individuals was met with criticism from some quarters, who argued that it sent a message that wealthy and powerful individuals are above the law. Others defended Trump's actions, arguing that he was simply showing mercy to individuals who had made mistakes but had paid their debt to society.
Nonviolent drug offenders
In addition to pardoning individuals who had been convicted of violent crimes, President Trump also granted clemency to a number of nonviolent drug offenders.
- Alice Johnson
A first-time drug offender who was sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent drug offense. Trump commuted Johnson's sentence in June 2018, after she had served 21 years of her sentence. Johnson's case gained national attention after she was featured in a documentary about the impact of mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
- Matthew Charles
A first-time drug offender who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a nonviolent drug offense. Trump commuted Charles' sentence in December 2018, after he had served 20 years of his sentence.
- Judith Negron
A first-time drug offender who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a nonviolent drug offense. Trump commuted Negron's sentence in February 2020, after she had served 20 years of her sentence.
- Crystal Munoz
A first-time drug offender who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a nonviolent drug offense. Trump commuted Munoz's sentence in February 2020, after she had served 10 years of her sentence.
Trump's decision to commute the sentences of these nonviolent drug offenders was praised by some who argued that it was a step in the right direction towards reforming the criminal justice system. Others criticized Trump's actions, arguing that he was simply trying to boost his popularity among African American voters.