You're probably here because of the Jan 2026 rerun. This is the 15th time since 2016 (archive start) this story has run. The previous rerun was Nov 2025.
Rerun #15
Jan 2026 Trump pardons ex-Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced, banker Julio Herrera Velutini and Mark Rossini
According to Bloomberg Law, prosecutors had accused Vázquez, who endorsed Trump in 2020, of accepting $300,000 in campaign contributions from Herrera Velutini in exchange for agreeing to fire a financial regulator who was investigating his business dealings. CBS reported that all three pleaded guilty to lesser corruption charges in August 2025 after the Justice Department cut a deal, and the Justice Department's clemency list dates the pardons January 15, 2026. CBS cited public records showing that Herrera Velutini's daughter gave $2.5 million in December 2024 and $1 million in July 2025 to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. A White House official told CBS the donations had nothing to do with the pardon. Defense lawyer Chris Kise, who once represented Trump in the classified-documents case, helped broker the plea deal (CBS). Bloomberg Law cited federal lobbying disclosures showing that Kise hired Brian Ballard to lobby for Herrera's bank. Stated reason: A White House official told CBS that "Ms. Vázquez's pardon materials state that there was never any element of a quid pro quo deal and that her prosecution was politically motivated." CBS also reported that Trump officials believed the case was politically motivated because the investigation began in 2020, days after Vázquez endorsed Trump.
- cbsnews.com
article
The plan to issue the pardons was first reported by CBS News.
- news.bloomberglaw.com
article
the president's latest use of clemency power to nullify a long-running corruption case.
- youtube.com
video
Sources:
cbsnews.com reliable · news.bloomberglaw.com needs a second source · justice.gov needs a second source
Rerun #14
Nov 2025 Pardons of Giuliani, Meadows and the 2020 alternate electors
The pardon document lists 77 people (NPR), who received "full, complete, and unconditional" pardons. They include Rudy Giuliani, Trump's former personal lawyer, and Mark Meadows, his chief of staff from March 2020 to January 2021 (CBS). Also named were John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro, Boris Epshteyn and the 2020 alternate electors (CBS). The document says it "ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election and continues the process of national reconciliation." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the recipients "were persecuted and put through hell by the Biden Administration for challenging an election" (CBS, NPR). The pardons cover federal charges only (WRDW). Prosecutors in Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona and Michigan had filed state charges, and a Michigan judge dismissed that state's charges in September 2025 (CBS).
- cbsnews.com
article
More than 70 people are named in the document as receiving pardons.
- NPR
article
A proclamation published on Martin's personal X account late Sunday listed 77 people who received "full, complete, and unconditional" pardons
- x.com
social post
Sources:
cbsnews.com reliable · NPR reliable · Washington Examiner needs a second source · wrdw.com needs a second source
Rerun #13
Oct 2025 George Santos commutation and Changpeng Zhao pardon
On October 17, 2025, Trump commuted the 87-month sentence of former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who had pleaded guilty in 2024 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft (NPR; DOJ). NPR described Santos as "a fierce supporter of Trump." Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who had pleaded guilty in 2023 to failing to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program; the Justice Department dates the pardon October 21, and the White House confirmed it on October 23 (ABC; DOJ). ABC reported that the pardon came as Zhao "made recent moves to boost" World Liberty Financial, a crypto company launched by Trump's sons Eric and Donald Jr. AP reported that World Liberty had announced that an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates would use $2 billion worth of its USD1 stablecoin to buy a stake in Binance (AP via PBS). Stated reasons: Leavitt said Zhao "was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency"; Trump said he acted "at the request of a lot of very good people"; for Santos, Trump said there are "many rogues throughout our Country that aren't forced to serve seven years in prison."
- NPR
article
George Santos was somewhat of a 'rogue,' but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren't forced to serve seven years in prison,
- ABC News
article
The pardon comes as Zhao made recent moves to boost World Liberty Financial
- Public Broadcasting Service
article
World Liberty Financial also recently announced that an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates would be using $2 billion worth of USD1 to purchase a stake in Binance.
Sources:
NPR reliable · ABC News reliable · Public Broadcasting Service reliable · justice.gov needs a second source
Rerun #12
May 2025 Walczak pardon reporting and the late-May clemency batch
Trump pardoned Paul Walczak on April 23, 2025 (DOJ). He had been sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $4 million in restitution for tax crimes. In a May 28 roundup, Axios, citing the New York Times, reported that his mother, GOP donor Elizabeth Fago, had recently attended a $1-million-per-person fundraising dinner at Mar-a-Lago. In a statement quoted by Axios, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said Walczak was "targeted by the Biden administration over his family's conservative politics." That week Trump pardoned former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins (May 27), whom CBS described as a longstanding supporter, and former Republican Rep. Michael Grimm (May 28). On May 28 he also commuted the 12-year sentence of Imaad Zuberi, whom AP (via The Week) described as a top donor to Trump's first inaugural committee. The Justice Department lists Zuberi's offenses as Foreign Agents Registration Act violations, tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions and witness tampering (obstruction of justice).
- Axios
article
the Biden IRS turned Walczak's civil case over outstanding tax obligations into a criminal matter and indicted him.
- justice.gov
statement
Violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act; tax evasion; foreign, conduit, and other illegal campaign contributions; tampering with a witness, victim or informant (obstruction of justice)
Sources:
Axios reliable · cbsnews.com reliable · theweek.in needs a second source · Public Broadcasting Service reliable · justice.gov needs a second source
Rerun #11
Mar 2025 Pardon of Trevor Milton
On March 28, 2025, Axios reported that President Trump had pardoned Trevor Milton, the founder of the now-bankrupt truck maker Nikola. Milton was convicted in 2022 of securities and wire fraud and sentenced to four years in prison in late 2023. He was free on bond while he appealed. The Justice Department's clemency list dates the pardon March 27. Axios cited federal records showing that Milton and his wife together made contributions totaling more than $1.8 million to Trump's reelection effort in October 2024. Axios also noted that Milton's trial lawyer, Brad Bondi, is the brother of Attorney General Pam Bondi. It quoted the Financial Times, which said a person close to the situation reported he had not been involved in the pardon. Axios, citing CNBC, said the pardon came two weeks after prosecutors asked the court to order about $680 million in restitution to Nikola shareholders. Because of the pardon, the judge could not order any restitution.
- Axios
article
Milton and his wife together made contributions last October to President Trump's reelection effort totaling over $1.8 million, federal records show.
- x.com
social post
This pardon is not just about me—it's about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that's a lot of people
Sources:
Axios reliable · justice.gov needs a second source
Rerun #10
Jan 2025 January 6 pardons and commutations
On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump signed a proclamation that commuted to time served the sentences of 14 people, all Oath Keepers or Proud Boys members (the list includes Rhodes); gave a "full, complete and unconditional pardon" to everyone else convicted of offenses tied to Jan. 6, 2021; and told the Attorney General to seek dismissal of all pending Jan. 6 indictments. CBS describes the Jan. 6 crowd as "a mob of his supporters." As a candidate, Trump had called those imprisoned "the J6 hostages, not prisoners" (Houston, November 2023). NBC also reported that in June 2023 he spoke at a fundraiser for Jan. 6 defendants at his Bedminster golf club and promised to contribute to their legal fund. The proclamation's stated reason is that it "ends a grave national injustice… and begins a process of national reconciliation."
- whitehouse.gov
statement
This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation.
- cbsnews.com
article
These are the hostages, approximately 1,500 for a pardon, full pardon,
- Public Broadcasting Service
article
The former leader of the Proud Boys and the founder of the Oath Keepers have been released from prison
Sources:
whitehouse.gov reliable · cbsnews.com reliable · Public Broadcasting Service reliable · NBC News reliable
Rerun #9
Jan 2025 – ongoing Biden's preemptive pardons of family members and officials
On January 20, 2025, President Biden announced preemptive pardons for his brothers James B. Biden and Francis W. Biden, his sister Valerie Biden Owens, and two spouses, Sara Jones Biden and John T. Owens. The pardons were announced about 20 minutes before power passed to President Trump. Earlier that morning he had announced preemptive pardons for Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and the members and staff of the House Jan. 6 committee. The family warrant, signed January 19, grants "A FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL PARDON" for any nonviolent federal offenses committed from January 1, 2014, through the date of the pardon. Biden said his family had faced "unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me" and that the pardons "should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing." House Oversight Chair James Comer said the family pardons were "a confession of their corruption." Comer had earlier sent a criminal referral for James Biden to the Justice Department.
- cbsnews.com
article
Just 20 minutes before handing over power to Mr. Trump, Mr. Biden also announced he was preemptively pardoning his brothers, sister-in-law, sister and brother-in-law.
- ABC News
article
That is why I am exercising my power under the Constitution to pardon James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden
- presidency.ucsb.edu
statement
FOR ANY NONVIOLENT OFFENSES against the United States which they may have committed or taken part in during the period from January I, 2014, through the date of this pardon.
Sources:
cbsnews.com reliable · ABC News reliable · presidency.ucsb.edu reliable
Rerun #8
Dec 2024 Biden pardons his son Hunter Biden
On December 1, 2024, President Biden gave his son, Robert Hunter Biden, a "full and unconditional pardon." It covers federal offenses from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024, and names the gun case in Delaware and the tax case in California brought by special counsel David Weiss (DOJ warrant). Hunter Biden was due to be sentenced on December 12 (gun convictions) and December 16 (tax charges) (CBS). In his statement, Biden said his son had been "selectively and unfairly prosecuted" and "singled out only because he is my son." This came after Biden and his press secretary had repeatedly said he would not pardon him (CBS; AP via PBS). CBS and AP both compared it to Clinton's pardon of his brother Roger (CBS: half-brother) and Trump's pardon of Charles Kushner. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) called it "a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents," and President-elect Trump called it "such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice" (AP via PBS).
- presidency.ucsb.edu
statement
I have watched my son being selectively and unfairly prosecuted.
- justice.gov
statement
A FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL PARDON FOR THOSE OFFENSES against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024
- Public Broadcasting Service
article
I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.
Sources:
cbsnews.com reliable · Public Broadcasting Service reliable · justice.gov needs a second source · presidency.ucsb.edu reliable
Rerun #7
Jan 2021 Paid pardon lobbying reports, then the final-night batch (Bannon, Broidy)
On Jan 17, 2021, reporting attributed by ABC to The New York Times (and published the same day by The Boston Globe) said that "some of his allies" were "collecting fees from wealthy felons or their associates to push the White House for clemency." The Globe reported that Brett Tolman, a former federal prosecutor who had been advising the White House on pardons, filed lobbying disclosures showing payments for clemency work, including at least $10,000 from former Sen. Tim Hutchinson to seek a pardon for his son, and that a onetime top Trump campaign adviser was paid $50,000 to help seek a pardon for John Kiriakou. ABC reported, citing the Times, that William T. Walters, one of the final-night recipients, sought the help of Trump's former personal lawyer John Dowd, who "marketed himself" as able to use his White House access; Dowd denied using his access to lobby for pardons. On Jan 19–20, Trump pardoned 73 people and commuted the sentences of 70 others. Among them were Steve Bannon, his former White House chief strategist, who had been charged over the "We Build the Wall" crowdfunding campaign, and Elliott Broidy, whom NBC called "a top fundraiser for Trump and the Republican Party." Broidy had pleaded guilty in October 2020 to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws. The White House statement said Bannon's charges stemmed "from his involvement in a political project."
- NBC News
article
Broidy was a top fundraiser for Trump and the Republican Party who pleaded guilty in October to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws.
- ABC News
article
Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen
- bostonglobe.com
article
A onetime top adviser to the Trump campaign was paid $50,000 to help seek a pardon for John Kiriakou
- youtube.com
video
Sources:
NBC News reliable · ABC News reliable · trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov reliable · bostonglobe.com needs a second source
Rerun #6
Dec 2020 Trump's pre-Christmas clemency batches (Hunter, Collins, Stockman, Papadopoulos, Manafort, Stone, Charles Kushner)
On December 22, 2020, President Trump pardoned former Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter (who pleaded guilty in a campaign-funds case) and Chris Collins (securities fraud conspiracy and false statements to the FBI). Roll Call reported that both "were also among the first in Congress to endorse Trump." The White House said the pardons came "at the request of many Members of Congress." The same day he pardoned George Papadopoulos, a onetime Trump foreign policy adviser who served 12 days in jail in 2018 for lying to the FBI, and commuted the remaining prison sentence of former Texas GOP Rep. Steve Stockman, convicted in 2018 of 23 felony charges related to misusing charitable contributions (Roll Call). The next day he pardoned his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his "longtime friend and political confidant" Roger Stone (NPR's words), whose sentence he had commuted in July. He also pardoned Charles Kushner, father of senior adviser Jared Kushner, who had pleaded guilty to tax evasion, retaliating against a federal witness and lying to the FEC. The White House statement gave reasons for each grant: for Manafort, "blatant prosecutorial overreach" and the Mueller investigation; for Stone, what it called prosecutorial misconduct by Mueller's team; and for Kushner, his philanthropy and the support of backers it named, including Brett Tolman.
- rollcall.com
article
The two Republicans were also among the first in Congress to endorse Trump when he ran for president.
- trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov
statement
This record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner's conviction and 2 year sentence for preparing false tax returns, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the FEC.
- NPR
article
President Trump issued dozens more pardons on Wednesday evening to many wealthy and well-connected convicts with ties to his innermost circles
Sources:
rollcall.com reliable · NPR reliable · trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov reliable
Rerun #5
Nov 2020 Pardon of Michael Flynn
Flynn was a prominent adviser to Trump's 2016 campaign and then Trump's first national security adviser. He resigned after less than four weeks. In 2017 he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, and he later tried, with the Justice Department, to undo that plea. On Nov. 25, 2020, the White House press secretary said Trump had pardoned Flynn "because he should never have been prosecuted." The pardon released on Nov. 30 also covers his admitted 2016 lobbying for Turkey and "any other possible related crimes," according to CNN. The Washington Post reported that Flynn was the second Trump associate caught up in the Mueller probe to receive clemency, after the July 2020 commutation of Roger Stone's sentence.
- The Washington Post
article
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon.
- trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov
statement
The President has pardoned General Flynn because he should never have been prosecuted.
- CNN
article
The specifics of Trump's pardon for Flynn are written very broadly.
Sources:
NBC News reliable · The Washington Post reliable · trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov reliable · CNN reliable
Rerun #4
Jul 2020 Roger Stone's sentence commuted
On July 10, 2020, President Trump commuted the 40-month prison sentence of Roger Stone. CNBC called Stone Trump's "longtime ally"; the AP called him a "longtime Trump friend and informal adviser." Stone had been convicted of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction in connection with the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia. He was the sixth Trump aide or adviser convicted on charges from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation (AP). In its statement, the White House called Stone "a victim of the Russia Hoax." CNBC reported that the announcement also said Stone "would be put at serious medical risk" from the coronavirus if imprisoned. NPR reported that Sen. Mitt Romney was "the only prominent Republican to break with the president" as of the next day; Romney called the commutation "unprecedented, historic corruption." Months earlier, after Stone's February sentencing, Rep. Adam Schiff (D) had warned that a pardon would be "a breathtaking act of corruption" (AP, via CBC).
- trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov
statement
Roger Stone is a victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency.
- cnbc.com
article
President Donald Trump on Friday fully commuted the criminal sentence of his longtime ally Roger Stone, just four days before the Republican operative was due to begin a 40-month prison term.
- wunc.org
article
As of midday Saturday, Romney was the only prominent Republican to break with the president.
Sources:
trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov reliable · cnbc.com reliable · cbc.ca needs a second source · wunc.org needs a second source
Rerun #3
Feb 2020 Trump's February 2020 clemency batch: Blagojevich, Kerik, Milken, DeBartolo and Pogue
On Feb 18, 2020, Trump commuted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's 14-year corruption sentence. He also pardoned former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik, financier Michael Milken, former 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. and others; ABC and CNBC counted 11 acts of clemency (pardons and commutations) that day. Kerik was appointed police commissioner in 2000 by then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who by 2020 was Trump's personal lawyer (Washington Times). ABC News described Kerik as "a frequent defender of the president on Fox News" and said Blagojevich had defended Trump against impeachment. ABC News also reported, citing FEC filings, that the son and daughter-in-law of another person pardoned that day, construction executive Paul Pogue, gave $238,541 to Trump Victory between August and October 2019. ABC added that DeBartolo co-hosted a party in Washington before the inauguration.
- ABC News
article
Paul Pogue's son, Ben Pogue, who now leads the family construction company, and his wife, Ashleigh Pogue, together gave a total of $238,541 between August and October 2019 to Trump Victory
- The Washington Times
article
Kerik was appointed police commissioner in 2000 by then-New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, now the president's personal lawyer.
Sources:
ABC News reliable · The Washington Times needs a second source · cnbc.com reliable · The Hill reliable
Rerun #2
May 2018 – Jun 2018 Pardon of Dinesh D'Souza
On May 31, 2018, Trump said he was giving a full pardon to Dinesh D'Souza. D'Souza is a conservative author and filmmaker who pleaded guilty in 2014 to reimbursing two associates after causing them to give $10,000 each to Wendy Long's 2012 Senate campaign (CNBC). The White House statement said D'Souza was, "in the President's opinion, a victim of selective prosecution" (ABC News). CNN reported that a source said Sen. Ted Cruz, among others, lobbied Trump personally, and that a Justice Department spokesperson confirmed the pardon did not go through the Office of the Pardon Attorney. On June 1, Cruz said he raised the pardon with Trump while they rode together in Dallas on May 4. The Texas Tribune noted this conflicted with Trump's statement that "nobody asked me to do it."
- CNN
article
Will be giving a Full Pardon to Dinesh D'Souza today. He was treated very unfairly by our government!
- ABC News
article
Mr. D'Souza was, in the President's opinion, a victim of selective prosecution for violations of campaign finance laws.
- texastribune.org
article
Cruz's account is at odds with what Trump and the White House have said about how the pardon came about.
Sources:
CNN reliable · ABC News reliable · texastribune.org reliable · cnbc.com reliable
Rerun #1
Aug 2017 Trump pardons former Sheriff Joe Arpaio
On Friday night, August 25, 2017, President Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio, the former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. Arpaio had been found guilty of criminal contempt the month before for disregarding a court order in a racial profiling case. His sentencing had been set for October 5, and VOA reported he could have faced up to six months in jail (CNN; VOA). CNN described Arpaio as "an early Trump supporter." Newsweek reported that he endorsed Trump in 2016, spoke at the Republican National Convention and was mentioned as a possible head of Homeland Security. Newsweek also reported that Arpaio announced a "cold case posse" in 2011 to investigate the "birther" theory about President Obama, and that Trump praised the move in a letter to Arpaio. The White House said that after "more than fifty years of admirable service to our Nation, he is a worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon" (VOA).
- Voice of America
article
Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now eighty-five years old, and after more than fifty years of admirable service to our Nation, he is a worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon.
- CNN
article
I won't do it tonight because I don't want to cause any controversy.
- Voice of America
article
Both Republican Senators from Arizona, John McCain and Jeff Flake, also were critcal of the move.
Sources:
CNN reliable · Voice of America reliable · Newsweek (pre–2013) needs a second source
