In a recent exposé, investigative reporters revealed how lobbyists closely connected to former President Donald Trump are offering pardon services at extraordinarily high prices, capitalizing on the changed clemency environment in Washington. These “pardon brokers” pitch their influence as crucial to securing presidential clemency, sidestepping conventional Justice Department procedures and charging clients hundreds of thousands, and in some cases millions, of dollars for their services.
What Happened
In mid-August 2026, at a bar inside the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia, Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl, known lobbyists and political provocateurs, met with Ammon Covino, a convicted felon, to pitch their pardon services. They told Covino that with the current White House, pressure must be applied from many directions to compel the president to grant clemency. Despite Covino having submitted a pardon application directly to the Biden Justice Department, which was refused in July, Burkman and Wohl claimed they could secure a pardon for him by October — for a fee of $300,000.
Unbeknownst to them, Covino was cooperating with CBS News’s investigative team, which used hidden cameras to expose this pardon lobbying. The investigation highlighted the rise of a pardon broker industry that thrives on the promise of White House access rather than relying on the traditional Justice Department review process. These brokers counsel clients to funnel money toward influential contacts to expedite and guarantee presidential clemency.
Key Facts
President Trump has notably altered the clemency landscape during his tenure. On his first day in office, he granted pardons to over 1,500 individuals linked with the January 6 Capitol riot, including clemency for various white-collar criminals, often wealthy and connected. A CBS News analysis indicates that approximately 70% of Trump’s clemency grants in his second term bypassed the Justice Department, increasing to 92% when including Jan. 6 cases.
Lobbyists like Burkman and Wohl advocate directly to the White House or use connections within the Trump political circle, accepting fees reaching up to $3 million. Former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, another prominent pardon broker, openly disclosed that he submits clemency petitions straight to the White House rather than to the Justice Department, criticizing the traditional process as “the fox watching the hen house.”
Despite public denials by White House officials, including spokesperson Lauren Bis and White House Counsel Will Scharf, the industry known as pardon lobbying has flourished. Burkman and Wohl, who faced fraud and voter intimidation charges in previous years, have positioned themselves as key players in this niche, emphasizing that their advocacy offers clients a competitive edge.
What This Means
The rise of pardon brokers exploiting presidential clemency powers marks a significant departure from longstanding norms wherein the Justice Department vetted candidates for remorse and rehabilitation. This shift raises profound ethical questions about fairness and transparency in the clemency system, as access and financial resources increasingly dictate who receives mercy.
Ordinary clemency seekers now face a landscape where without substantial political contacts or the ability to pay exorbitant lobbying fees, their chances of obtaining relief are severely limited. This evolution undermines the traditional justice-centered approach to pardons and may erode public trust in presidential clemency as a measure of judicial fairness and mercy. For communities impacted by federal convictions, it signals a pivot toward a clemency economy shaped by influence and money rather than restorative justice.
Politically, this dynamic reflects a broader trend within the Trump administration’s exercise of executive power, where loyalty and connection often outweigh institutional process. How this will affect future presidencies and the institutional integrity of the clemency system remains an open question, especially as calls mount for oversight and reform.
Background
Traditionally, the presidential pardon process involved comprehensive vetting by the Justice Department, where lawyers reviewed applications carefully, emphasizing rehabilitation and acceptance of responsibility. High-profile controversial pardons by past presidents, such as Ford’s pardon of Nixon and Clinton’s pardon of financier Marc Rich, sparked debate but involved few cases overall.
Under Trump’s tenure, the volume of pardons increased significantly, and the adherence to Justice Department recommendations waned. This ebb in traditional protocols facilitated the emergence of pardon brokers who claim to offer expedited access directly to the president or his inner circle.
What Remains Unclear
It remains uncertain how many clemency requests submitted through pardon brokers ultimately succeed compared to those processed via the Justice Department. Additionally, how forthcoming future administrations will be about the role such intermediaries play in the pardon process is unresolved. The internal details of White House counsel’s review and the president’s direct decision-making criteria have not been fully disclosed.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following sources:
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