Donald Trump’s significant increase in presidential pardons during his second term has attracted intense lobbying efforts, with millions of dollars being offered to secure clemency for wealthy convicted clients. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump’s pardon activity stands in stark contrast to his first term. Previously, he issued only one early pardon before granting approximately 140 acts of clemency in his final days in office. Less than one year into his second term, Trump has already issued pardons to over 1,500 individuals on his first day and subsequently pardoned 87 additional people and corporations. The explosion in pardon activity has created what the Journal describes as a “pardon-shopping industry,” with lobbyists charging standard rates of $1 million for their services. The report notes that pardon-seekers have offered lobbyists success fees as high as $6 million upon securing a pardon. A lobbying firm operated by former Trump bodyguard Keith Schiller and former Trump Organization executive George Sorial received $1 million in the first quarter to lobby for a developer convicted of bribing former Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold bars. Attorneys representing imprisoned hip-hop executive Sean “Diddy” Combs have reportedly sought out individuals close to Trump to request presidential intervention. One pardon has raised concerns among Trump advisers about potential legal consequences. The pardon of Changpeng Zhao, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, drew scrutiny after lobbyists were paid approximately $800,000 before the pardon was granted. Trump advisers reportedly worry that the Zhao pardon will become a focal point for Democratic investigations should they regain control of the House or Senate in the coming year.
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