Democrats in both the Senate and House have initiated an inquiry to determine if the clemency actions taken by former President Trump were influenced by “pay-to-play” arrangements, as revealed in letters obtained by CBS News.
The investigation specifically examines several high-profile pardons, including those granted to Changpeng Zhao, a cryptocurrency mogul who admitted guilt in a money laundering case; Joseph Schwartz, a nursing home operator convicted of tax offenses; and Trevor Milton, an entrepreneur sentenced to four years in prison in 2023 for misleading investors.
On Thursday, California Representatives Dave Min and Raul Ruiz, along with Vermont Senator Peter Welch, dispatched letters to over a dozen individuals who received executive clemency. Their goal is to uncover any potential connections they might have had with Trump or his advisers that were facilitated by intermediaries, financial contributions, or other means of influence.
The Democratic lawmakers are also investigating how these pardons and commutations have affected numerous financial victims. Their correspondence emphasizes that Trump’s clemency decisions have “deprived victims of compensation and justice,” referencing the cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution owed to crime victims and associated fines.
The scrutiny surrounding clemency has intensified during Trump’s second term, particularly concerning pardons and commutations granted to several of his allies facing legal challenges, as well as those who employed individuals in close proximity to him. The letters assert that Trump’s actions seem to favor his allies in a manner inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s characterization of executive clemency as “an act of grace” intended for the “public welfare.”
The lawmakers have requested any contracts detailing payments made by the recipients of clemency to lawyers, lobbyists, social media influencers, and others who advocated on their behalf to Trump. Additionally, they seek records of communications between the recipients or their representatives and federal officials, documentation of donations to Trump or related entities, and other pertinent materials connected to the clemency process.
Min expressed to CBS News that failure to respond could risk drawing attention to these individuals, potentially positioning them as subjects of future congressional investigations and increasing their vulnerability to further criminal prosecutions. He stressed that the notion of circumventing the justice system post-conviction reflects broader issues within the current administration in America.
As the Democrats hold a minority status in both chambers of Congress, they currently lack subpoena authority and can only request cooperation from those who received pardons. However, should they regain majorities in the upcoming midterm elections, this unusual avenue for clemency oversight will likely become a significant focus area, granting them the ability to compel the production of documents regarding clemency and other oversight matters.
One of the most notable pardons being scrutinized is Trump’s clemency for Zhao, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Federal disclosures indicate that this clemency effort was spearheaded by Ches McDowell, a lawyer and lobbyist who is acquainted with Donald Trump Jr., and Teresa Goody Guillén, an attorney representing Zach Witkoff, the son of Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
In a letter addressed to Zhao, the Democrats highlighted reports revealing that Binance collaborated with World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm established by the Trump and Witkoff families. The letter also pointed out that Zhao and Binance played a significant role in securing a substantial investment in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency business, which led to a valuation of $2.1 billion for the Trump Stablecoin.
The White House has denied any wrongdoing related to the pardon of Zhao and others, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that those attempting to lobby for pardons are wasting their resources and asserting that the administration follows a “thorough pardon review process.” Goody Guillén has also denied any “quid pro quo” arrangements.
Senator Welch, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee overseeing clemency at the Department of Justice, criticized Trump’s use of the presidential pardon, claiming it has allowed criminals to evade justice and deprived victims of substantial restitution, often without adequate justification. Traditionally, the DOJ manages pardons and commutations; however, former pardon attorney Liz Oyer mentioned that the Trump administration appears to have circumvented the department’s standard procedures, managing clemency directly from the White House without input from the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
The requests sent to clemency recipients called for responses by May 22.
Schwartz, who pleaded guilty to charges related to a $38 million payroll tax fraud scheme involving his nursing homes, had only served three months of a three-year prison sentence when Trump pardoned him. This pardon followed Schwartz’s financial contributions to right-wing operatives and lawyers associated with the president, as reported by the New York Times.
The inquiry also extends to Lawrence Duran, a former healthcare executive convicted of Medicare fraud, who received a commutation from Trump that erased $87 million in restitution owed. Furthermore, questions have been directed to Milton, the founder of the now-defunct automotive company Nikola, who was pardoned by Trump in March 2025, absolving him of approximately $680 million in restitution to shareholders. This pardon came after Milton and his spouse contributed at least $3 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and related political initiatives.
A White House official previously stated that Milton’s donations were a factor in the clemency decision.
