New reporting today continued to expose the pay-to-play politics driving Donald Trump’s presidency. According to a new 60 Minutes report, an extensive marketplace of lobbyists and lawyers has operated throughout Trump’s second term to secure pardons for convicted fraudsters and criminals in exchange for exorbitant payments.
Approximately 70% of Trump’s pardons and clemencies in his second term did not go through the standard process at the Department of Justice — a rate that increases to 92% when including Trump’s pardoning of January 6th insurrectionists. Trump has routinely pardoned or granted clemency to convicted criminals who donated to his political operation or campaigns.
Another report this morning revealed that a Russian oligarch with close ties to President Vladimir Putin secretly bankrolled hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of expenses for Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding earlier this year. The oligarch reportedly paid to rent a $100,000 per-night private island for the wedding and funded a $70,000 firework show.
In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:
“Donald Trump’s presidency has been defined by rampant corruption, as he takes every opportunity to line his pockets and those of his well-connected donors. Working families are struggling to stay afloat amid sky-high prices on gas, groceries, and housing — and Trump is turning a blind eye. Instead of following through on his promises to lower prices on ‘Day One’ or to ‘end inflation,’ Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself and bail out the rich and powerful. Americans won’t forget who sold them out when they go to the ballot box in November.”
Trump has pardoned or granted clemency to more than 70 people convicted of fraud, such as those involved in healthcare and nursing home schemes. Trump’s pardons have potentially given hundreds of millions of dollars owed to taxpayers and victims of fraud back to the convicted fraudsters.
