In his second term, President Donald Trump has used his clemency powers more actively, even granting a pardon to Adriana Camberos for two separate convictions. Her latest pardon concerns a 2024 conviction for deceiving buyers of wholesale groceries, while the earlier one related to a different fraud case.
This approach to clemency is indeed unusual. CNN’s legal analyst Elie Honig noted that presidents have the power to grant pardons multiple times to the same individual for different offenses. During his first term, Trump also granted clemency twice to the same person.
There are two types of clemency: pardons and commutations. A pardon completely cancels a federal conviction, while a commutation reduces a prison sentence. For instance, Trump commuted Roger Stone’s sentence and later issued a full pardon. Similarly, he gave Alice Marie Johnson, a former nonviolent drug offender, both a commutation and a pardon as part of his clemency program.
As of now, Trump has issued around 1,609 clemencies in his second term, significantly more than the 148 during his first term. Compared to previous presidents, Trump’s clemency actions, particularly after January 6, show a notable increase in frequency and volume.
In stark contrast, President Joe Biden hasn’t been as active. He issued about 80 individual pardons and 4,245 commutations, mainly for nonviolent drug offenses. Trump’s approach has surpassed Biden’s by a wide margin. For instance, Biden has granted around 1/21 of the pardons Trump has issued.
Historically, most presidents wait until the end of their term to grant pardons. Honig mentioned that Trump’s rolling approach is unusual and shows he’s willing to face any political backlash. This early and frequent granting of clemency might indicate a desire to solidify his support base.
Trump’s appointment of Alice Marie Johnson as a “pardon czar” adds another layer to this strategy. Johnson, who was themselves pardoned by Trump, is now helping to shape the clemency landscape. She has become a visible advocate for criminal justice reform, often collaborating with Trump’s team.
This second term also highlights a pattern of pardons granted to political allies and those connected to Trump’s financial interests. For example, Trump recently pardoned Julio Herrera Velutini, whose family has deep ties to Trump-related political funds.
Moreover, Trump’s pardons extend to areas like technology and crypto. He has moved from skepticism to actively promoting cryptocurrency, aiming to position the U.S. as a leader in that space. This shift included pardoning Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who faced legal challenges linked to money laundering, and Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road marketplace.
Some of Trump’s clemency decisions bypass typical legal boundaries. He extended pardons to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and even former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, criticized for drug trafficking connections. These choices have sparked controversy, often painted as politically motivated.
In summary, Trump’s actions around clemency are redefining the landscape, driven by a mix of personal, political, and financial motivations. As we await more developments, the approach to clemency will likely remain a focal point in discussions about governance and justice in America.
