President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon to Stephen Buyer, a former Republican congressman from Indiana who was convicted in 2023 of insider trading. Buyer, who served nearly two years in prison, was found guilty of making illegal stock trades based on nonpublic information after leaving office. The pardon, dated Thursday and released by the White House on Friday, absolves Buyer of all charges and fines, including a $10,000 penalty and forfeiture of $350,000 in illegal gains.
Background and Conviction
Buyer, 67, was sentenced in 2023 for trades made while working as a consultant and lobbyist. The case involved the $26.5 billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, announced in April 2018. Buyer maintained his innocence, calling the prosecution "politically motivated." He was released in 2025.
Support for the Pardon
Trump cited Buyer's "distinguished and highly productive" career, including his service as a judge advocate general in the Army and his tenure in the House from 1993 to 2011. The pardon was supported by letters from more than 50 current and former lawmakers, including Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Roger Wicker, as well as former House Speaker John Boehner. Buyer previously served as a House prosecutor during Bill Clinton's 1998 impeachment trial and worked on Trump's 2016 transition team.
Opposing Views
Some Republicans framed the case as a politically motivated prosecution, with a letter signed by 40 former GOP lawmakers alleging Buyer was "targeted by the deep state." Others, including five current House Republicans, argued the pardon would bring justice to Buyer's case. The White House directed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to issue a certificate of pardon immediately.
Reactions and Implications
Buyer called the pardon a correction of an unjust prosecution, while Trump used the occasion to criticize Nancy Pelosi over alleged insider trading. The pardon raises questions about the use of presidential clemency power and the fairness of Buyer's conviction.