Democrats Investigate Alleged Pay-to-Pardon Scheme Under Trump Administration

Democratic lawmakers are investigating whether former President Donald Trump’s pardons were contingent on financial contributions or other forms of influence. The inquiry, led by Representatives Dave Min and Raul Ruiz, along with Senator Peter Welch, targets over a dozen individuals who received pardons or clemency from Trump.

The letters demand that recipients provide contracts detailing payments made to lobbyists, social media influencers, lawyers, or other intermediaries involved in securing the pardons. Lawmakers argue that Trump’s clemency actions have deprived victims of justice and compensation, citing an analysis from California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office. The analysis found that Trump’s pardons nullified nearly $2 billion in recovered funds from Medicare fraud, tax fraud, and victim restitution.

In a statement to CBS News, Representative Min warned that recipients who fail to respond risk drawing further scrutiny, including potential criminal investigations. He criticized Trump’s pardons for undermining the justice system, stating,

"Trump’s pardons send the message that people can get around the justice system, which gets to the heart of what is wrong with America right now under this administration."

The investigation focuses on pardoned financial criminals, including:

• Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who pleaded guilty to money laundering and made billions from crypto trading.
• Trevor Milton, founder of Nikola, who was sentenced to four years in prison in 2023 for securities and wire fraud after defrauding investors in his electric truck company. Milton owed millions in restitution to victims before receiving a pardon.

Despite the scrutiny, Democrats lack subpoena power due to their minority status in Congress. Without legal enforcement, the letters carry limited weight. Meanwhile, Trump retains the financial rewards from those he pardoned.