A pair of Democratic lawmakers are expanding their investigations into the use of presidential pardons in the Trump administration, demanding that Justice Department officials turn over records related to a series of controversial clemency decisions.
“Trump has a documented history of destroying Presidential Records, and it’s vitally important to ensure records related to clemency decisions are well maintained,” said Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Rep. Dave Min (D-CA) in their letter to the Executive Office of the President (EOP), reported Meidas Touch correspondent Scott MacFarlane.
Their letter demanded all “petitions, applications, or other materials from individuals seeking clemency or their attorneys to EOP staff; any letters of support or other materials provided by third parties in support of a clemency request to EOP staff; any communications between EOP staff and individuals seeking clemency or their attorneys; any internal communications amongst EOP staff regarding these cases; and any recommendations prepared by EOP staff, including those not formally sent to the President but sent or obtained by EOP staff.”
Among the many pardons under investigation are those granted to Trevor Milton, an entrepreneur who defrauded investors by lying about his electric and hydrogen-powered truck company, Nikola; Changpeng Zhao, the billionaire founder of crypto exchange Binance who was convicted of money laundering; and Michele Fiore, a pro-MAGA Nevada politician who was convicted of pocketing charity money meant to go to a police memorial.
The news of an investigation into Trump’s pardons was first reported in May, as Democrats began investigating whether clemency was being awarded on a “pay-to-play” basis.
All of this is separate from Trump’s mass pardon of the January 6 rioters, which caused a wave of anger and controversy on the first day he returned to office.
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