Senior Democrats announced plans to investigate a growing industry of lobbyists and brokers charging fees to secure presidential pardons during Donald Trump’s administration, following a 60 Minutes investigation that documented the practice.
Democrats allege for-profit pardon brokers exploited Trump’s clemency process. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, stated that lawmakers are examining “everybody along the assembly line of clemency for cash,” calling the practice a conversion of the president’s pardon power into a commercial enterprise. The investigation, aired Sunday, revealed brokers charging convicted felons up to millions of dollars to bypass the Justice Department’s traditional clemency process.
Lobbyists and brokers used insider access and social media influencers to pressure the White House. Undercover footage showed right-wing provocateurs Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl agreeing to a $300,000 fee to lobby for a pardon for convicted wildlife trafficker Ammon Covino. Burkman and Wohl claimed they would apply “continuous pressure” on the president through White House insiders and MAGA-aligned influencers, rather than follow standard procedures. Covino, sentenced in 2020 for illegally trafficking exotic animals, was among several felons who sought their services.
White House denies influence from pardon brokers. A spokesperson for the Trump administration stated that the president’s clemency decisions were made through a robust review process involving the White House counsel’s office, the Justice Department, and the pardon czar, with Trump as the final authority. The spokesperson added that anyone paying to lobby for a pardon was “wasting money,” asserting that Trump was unaware of such efforts.
The administration described its clemency process as thorough, with applications screened by the Justice Department before reaching the president. The White House did not directly address the 60 Minutes report’s allegations of a pay-to-play dynamic but reiterated that the president’s decisions were independent of external lobbying.
Background: The rise of the pardon broker industry. The investigation highlighted how brokers marketed their services to wealthy or well-connected clients, leveraging perceived access to the Trump White House. Some brokers positioned themselves as intermediaries with political connections, offering to “put a pincer movement” on the president to secure clemency. The report noted that while presidential pardons are a constitutional power, the traditional Justice Department review process was sidestepped in favor of direct lobbying.
Legal and ethical concerns raised. Critics, including Democrats, argue that the practice undermines the integrity of the clemency system by creating a marketplace where wealth and influence determine outcomes. Legal experts have questioned whether brokers’ methods violate lobbying laws or ethical standards, particularly when claims of insider access are used to solicit fees. The Justice Department’s pardon attorney, whose office typically reviews applications, was not involved in the brokers’ efforts, according to the report.
Political fallout and future scrutiny. Raskin and other Democrats indicated that if their party gains control of Congress in upcoming elections, they would pursue hearings and potential legislation to regulate or criminalize pardon brokering. The inquiry would focus on the brokers’ methods, the clients they represent, and whether any White House officials were complicit in facilitating the practice. Republicans have not publicly commented on the investigation but have previously defended Trump’s expansive use of clemency, including pardons for January 6 defendants and political allies.
The 60 Minutes report did not provide evidence that Trump was aware of or influenced by the brokers’ activities. The White House reiterated that the president’s decisions were made independently, based on recommendations from established legal and advisory channels.