Twice Pardoned: Trump’s Expanding Use of Presidential Clemency
Former President Donald Trump has dramatically increased his use of presidential clemency powers during his second term, a trend marked by both frequency and unusual cases – including pardoning one individual, Adriana Camberos, twice. This surge in pardons and commutations is outpacing his first term and even historical precedents, raising questions about the scope and application of this presidential authority.
A Case of Double Clemency
On Friday, Trump granted a pardon to Adriana Camberos, who had previously received a commutation during his first term. This latest pardon addressed a 2024 conviction related to a scheme involving deceptive resale practices of wholesale goods. Her initial commutation in 2021 concerned unrelated fraud charges. While legally permissible, legal analysts note that granting a second pardon for separate offenses is highly unusual.
“A president absolutely does have the power to grant the same person two different pardons on two different cases, even if they’re sequential. The pardon power itself is essentially unlimited,” explained CNN’s senior legal analyst, Elie Honig. Jeffrey Crouch, an associate professor at American University, further noted that Trump previously granted a form of clemency twice to Roger Stone and Alice Marie Johnson during his first term.
Understanding Clemency: Pardons vs. Commutations
It’s important to understand the distinction between a pardon and a commutation. Both apply to federal charges. A pardon fully erases a federal conviction, while a commutation lessens the sentence. This power, while broad, is subject to scrutiny, especially when applied with such frequency.
Beyond Camberos: A Pattern of Increased Clemency
One year into his second term, Trump has issued approximately 1,609 pardons and clemencies, a stark contrast to the 148 granted during his entire first term. Excluding the roughly 1,500 pardons related to the January 6th Capitol riot, he has still granted 100 times more clemencies than at this point in his first term.
In comparison, former President Joe Biden issued roughly 80 individual pardons and a record 4,245 commutations, largely focused on non-violent drug offenses. Trump has issued nearly 21 times as many pardons as Biden. Former President Barack Obama granted 212 pardons over his two full terms, a number Trump has already surpassed.
A Shift in Timing and Approach
Historically, presidents tend to issue the bulk of their pardons towards the end of their presidencies. Trump, however, is granting pardons “on a rolling basis,” as Honig put it. This proactive approach, while potentially inviting political consequences, demonstrates a willingness to utilize the pardon power throughout his term.
Alice Marie Johnson: From Recipient to Advocate
Adding a unique dimension to Trump’s clemency efforts is Alice Marie Johnson, a former nonviolent drug offender whose sentence was commuted in 2018 and fully pardoned in 2020. Trump appointed Johnson as his White House pardon czar, a first-of-its-kind role, relying on her experience and advocacy to guide his clemency decisions.
Key Categories of Second-Term Pardons
Trump’s second-term pardons fall into several key categories:
- January 6th Pardons: A sweeping pardon granted to nearly all individuals convicted of attacking the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, including leaders of extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
- Political Allies: Pardons for individuals involved in attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, including Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and Mark Meadows.
- Financial Connections: Pardons for individuals with close ties to those financing Trump’s political campaigns, such as Julio Herrera Velutini and Trevor Milton.
- Tech and Cryptocurrency: Pardons for figures in the cryptocurrency space, including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road founder Ross William Ulbricht.
- VIPs and Political Leaders: Pardons for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, baseball legend Darryl Strawberry, British investor Joe Lewis, and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.
These actions underscore an emboldened Trump who is actively reshaping the landscape of presidential clemency. The long-term implications of this expanded use of the pardon power remain to be seen.
