DOJ Reveals Investigation into $2 Million Bribery-for-Pardon Scheme

Heavily redacted federal court documents unsealed in December 2020 revealed the Department of Justice was investigating a “bribery-for-pardon” scheme in which individuals allegedly offered substantial political contributions in exchange for presidential pardons. The court filings, made public by Chief Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., showed federal investigators believed there was probable cause that crimes had been committed.

The Investigation

The August 2020 court filing described a scheme in which someone “would offer a substantial political contribution in exchange for a presidential pardon or reprieve of sentence” for an unnamed individual. The heavily redacted 18-page document revealed federal investigators had seized communications devices and reviewed emails and other electronic communications as part of the probe.

Investigators were examining whether a lawyer or lobbyist acting as an intermediary had arranged for a substantial political contribution—potentially exceeding $2 million—to be directed to the White House or Trump campaign in exchange for a pardon. The investigation involved potential violations of federal bribery statutes and conspiracy laws.

The court filing stated there was probable cause to believe multiple individuals committed crimes related to “a secret lobbying scheme” and a “bribery conspiracy scheme” involving presidential pardons. Judge Howell authorized seizure of emails and communications between the alleged participants.

Redacted Names and Connections

While names were redacted, the investigation appeared connected to several Trump associates later pardoned, including Elliott Broidy—a major Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws and later received a Trump pardon. Broidy had admitted to funneling millions from foreign nationals while lobbying the Trump administration.

The investigation also appeared connected to Rudy Giuliani associates, including Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were involved in schemes to funnel foreign money into U.S. politics. Multiple witnesses later described discussions about obtaining pardons in exchange for payments routed through Trump’s political operations or legal defense funds.

Systematic Pay-to-Play

The investigation revealed Trump’s pardon process had become systematized pay-to-play corruption. Rather than following the traditional Department of Justice pardon review process involving the Office of the Pardon Attorney, Trump’s pardons increasingly bypassed career prosecutors entirely. Wealthy donors, their lawyers, and political intermediaries had direct access to the White House to negotiate pardons.

The scheme represented a corruption of constitutional powers—the pardon authority was being monetized through political contributions rather than exercised based on justice considerations. The investigation found evidence of “secret lobbying” where lawyers acted as fixers, promising pardons to wealthy clients in exchange for seven-figure political donations.

Significance

The DOJ investigation into pardon bribery provided documentary evidence that Trump’s clemency process had become a criminal enterprise. While the investigation continued into the Biden administration, the unsealing of court documents confirmed what many suspected: Trump’s pardons were for sale to the highest bidder. The systematic nature of the scheme—involving lawyers, lobbyists, and political operatives as intermediaries—showed this was not isolated incidents but an organized corruption of presidential power for personal financial and political gain.