The Trump administration’s systematic removal of FBI and DOJ personnel, initially targeting those involved in January 6 investigations, effectively dismantled key anti-corruption enforcement mechanisms. By June 2025, eight senior FBI executives had been terminated, with dozens of field office …
Donald TrumpKash PatelPam BondiFBI Agents Associationinstitutional-capturejustice-weaponizationcorruptionpardonlaw-enforcement-restructuring
President Donald Trump pardoned former Republican Representative Michael Grimm, who served seven months in prison for tax fraud and resigned from Congress in 2015. The pardon was part of a broader clemency effort targeting individuals with felony convictions similar to legal challenges faced by …
Donald TrumpMichael GrimmTrump Administrationcorruptionpardonpolitical-alliesexecutive-clemency
In a systematic display of political patronage, Trump granted executive clemency to a series of convicted individuals, prioritizing wealthy campaign contributors and ardent MAGA loyalists. These pardons represent a dramatic expansion of Trump’s first-term pardon strategy, transforming the …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationEd MartinMichele FioreTodd Chrisley+3 morepardonregulatory-capturepolitical-patronageexecutive-power-abusewhite-collar-crime
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin explicitly politicized the presidential pardon power, announcing a strategy of pardoning political allies and supporters. This included pardoning Scott Jenkins, a former sheriff convicted of taking over $75,000 in bribes, signaling a dramatic shift in how …
Donald TrumpEd MartinScott Jenkinspardonpolitical-corruptionjustice-weaponizationexecutive-power-abuse
Trump pardoned reality TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted in 2022 for defrauding banks of over $30 million and evading federal taxes, after their daughter—an RNC speaker and Trump supporter—lobbied for their clemency
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcorruptionpardongovernment-contracts
President Trump pardoned Scott Jenkins, former Culpeper County Sheriff, who was convicted of accepting $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing wealthy businessmen as unpaid auxiliary deputies. Trump claimed Jenkins was a victim of an ‘overzealous Biden Department of Justice’.
Donald TrumpScott JenkinsJason Miyarescorruptionpardonlaw-enforcementkleptocratic-capture
A House Judiciary Committee review revealed that Trump’s pardons eliminated $1.3 billion in restitution from white-collar criminals and January 6 defendants. Notable cases include Todd Chrisley’s $17.7 million tax fraud pardon, Carlos Watson’s $36.7 million investor fraud clemency, …
Donald TrumpTrump AdministrationHouse Judiciary Committee DemocratsLiz Oyerpardongovernment-contractsjustice-weaponizationwhite-collar-crimejudicial-abuse
President Trump pardoned Paul Walczak, a Florida healthcare executive convicted of $10.9 million in tax fraud, less than three weeks after his mother Elizabeth Fago attended a $1 million-per-plate Mar-a-Lago fundraiser. Fago was previously involved in efforts to publicize Ashley Biden’s stolen …
Donald TrumpPaul WalczakElizabeth FagoAshley Bidencorruptionpardonpolitical-favorsexecutive-privilege
Trump issued a full pardon to HDR Global Trading, the parent company of crypto exchange BitMEX, which had pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws and was fined $100 million
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptopardongovernment-contracts
President Trump commuted the prison sentence of Jason Galanis, who was serving a 189-month sentence for defrauding the Wakpamni Lake Community Corporation of over $38 million in tribal economic development bonds. The clemency eliminates all remaining fines, restitution, and probation conditions, and …
Donald TrumpJason GalanisDevon Archercorruptionpardontribal-fraudpolitical-influence
President Trump pardoned Nikola founder Trevor Milton, who was convicted of securities fraud in October 2022, after Milton donated $1.8M to Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign. The pardon effectively eliminates $695.2 million in potential restitution to Nikola shareholders and prevents further …
Donald TrumpTrevor MiltonNikola Corporationcorruptionpardonregulatory-capturecampaign-financecorporate-fraud
Trump has granted full pardons to BitMEX co-founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed, who were convicted of violating the Bank Secrecy Act for failing to implement anti-money laundering controls
Donald TrumpTrump Administrationcryptopardonregulatory-capture
President Trump issued a series of pardons to individuals convicted of financial crimes in February 2025, including Rod Blagojevich (former Illinois governor convicted of corruption), the Chrisleys (reality TV stars convicted of bank fraud), Michael Grimm (former congressman convicted of tax fraud), …
Donald TrumpRod BlagojevichTodd ChrisleyJulie ChrisleyMichael Grimm+5 morepardonfinancial-crimeswhite-collar-crimemoney-launderingwire-fraud+4 more
President Trump issued pardons to multiple financial criminals in his first week, including a Trump loyalist convicted of wire fraud, a corporation fined $100 million for money laundering violations, and the son of a longtime Republican donor. The pardons extended to Rod Blagojevich who had been …
Donald TrumpRod BlagojevichFinancial criminalsRepublican donorspardonfinancial-crimesmoney-launderingwire-fraudcorruption+2 more
President Trump issued pardons to campaign chairman Paul Manafort (convicted of financial fraud and conspiracy), adviser Roger Stone (witness tampering and lying to Congress), National Security Adviser Michael Flynn (lying to FBI about Russia contacts), and Charles Kushner (tax evasion and witness …
Donald TrumpPaul ManafortRoger StoneMichael FlynnSteve Bannon+2 morepardonobstruction-of-justicecorruptionabuse-of-powerrule-of-law
Blackwater private military contractors’ killing of 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad’s Nisour Square exposes systematic corporate-state fusion accountability crisis where privatized government military functions operate beyond constitutional and legal constraints. The massacre demonstrates …
Blackwater WorldwideErik PrinceState DepartmentCentral Intelligence AgencyIraqi Government+3 moresystematic-corporate-capturesystematic-constitutional-violationblackwaterconstitutional-constraint-bypassprivatized-government-functions+10 more