Trump’s Clemency Surge Sparks ‘Pardon-Shopping’ Industry With Multimillion-Dollar Fees

WASHINGTON — Less than a year into his second term, President Donald J. Trump has issued over 1,600 pardons and commutations, dwarfing his first-term total and fueling what critics call a “pardon-shopping industry” where lobbyists charge up to $1 million in base fees and as much as $6 million in success bonuses to secure clemency for wealthy clients. This explosion in executive mercy, often benefiting allies, donors, and figures in Trump’s orbit, has raised alarms about potential corruption and the commodification of justice, with some advisers privately expressing concerns that certain decisions could invite congressional scrutiny or legal challenges.

The Wall Street Journal first detailed this emerging marketplace on December 24, 2025, reporting that Trump’s friends-and-family approach to clemency has created lucrative opportunities for well-connected intermediaries. Lobbyists close to the president, including former Trump bodyguard Keith Schiller and ex-Trump Organization executive George Sorial, have capitalized on their ties. Their firm, Javelin Advisors LLC, received $1 million in the first quarter of 2025 to advocate for a developer convicted of bribing former Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), according to federal lobbying disclosures. Sorial and Schiller, who served as Trump’s deputy assistant and Oval Office operations director respectively during his first term, have positioned their consultancy as a gateway for executive action, with “executive pardon” listed as a key issue in filings.

This model extends to other high-profile cases. Attorneys for imprisoned music executive Sean “Diddy” Combs have reportedly sought Trump’s intervention, approaching individuals in the president’s circle to request a pardon following Combs’ 50-month sentence for prostitution-related charges in October 2025. Trump confirmed the outreach in an ABC News interview on October 6, stating Combs “asked him for a pardon” but offering no commitment. Speculation about Combs’ efforts intensified after his conviction, with media outlets like USA Today reporting on October 21 that White House sources dismissed any imminent clemency. On X, users like @Cathy16312017 speculated that rapper Nicki Minaj’s association with Turning Point USA might be linked to seeking a pardon for her husband, Kenneth Petty, convicted of attempted rape, tying into broader discussions of celebrity lobbying.

One pardon has particularly alarmed Trump’s inner circle: the October 23 clemency for Changpeng Zhao, founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering violations and was sentenced to four months in prison. Zhao’s release drew bipartisan condemnation, with 27 House Democrats, led by Representative Sean Casten (D-Ill.), writing on November 6 that it undermined U.S. national security. FactCheck.org debunked Trump’s defense on November 12, noting Zhao was prosecuted under the Biden administration, not as a political vendetta. The Journal reported lobbyists were paid about $800,000 before the pardon, raising fears among advisers that it could become a “focal point for Democratic investigations” if control of Congress shifts in 2026.

Trump’s pardons often appear tied to personal or financial connections. A New York Times interactive on December 22 revealed that at least 27 post-election donors, contributing over $58 million to Trump-aligned groups, benefited from clemency or regulatory leniency. Forbes on November 10 cataloged recipients with approximately $250,000 in combined donations through 2025. The Guardian on December 21 described 2025 as a “good year for white-collar criminals,” noting pardons wiped out over $1 billion in fines and settlements.

Critics, including former Trump officials, decry the process as “transactional.” Marc Short, Mike Pence’s chief of staff, ripped Trump’s first-term pardons in a June 18, 2023, interview resurfaced on X, calling them “indefensible” for benefiting cocaine traffickers and family members, with people paying $750,000 to lobbyists. On X, @Seyi__ questioned on November 11, 2025, whether the pardon power should be stripped from the Constitution, given its use for “personal business interests.” User @Million_aire1 on December 21 urged congressional action to stop pardons as a “transactional tool,” linking to a YouTube clip.

Trump’s defenders frame the pardons as corrective justice. In a May 6 Bloomberg feature, lawyers quoted $1 million fees for navigating the White House process. Trump’s clubs, like Mar-a-Lago, have seen membership fees double to $1 million since his return, per a May 22 Yahoo report, amid speculation that access facilitates influence. On X, @GregTodd_ shared the WSJ story on December 25, lamenting, “Under Trump, the going rate for a presidential pardon is between US$1-6 million.”

The surge contrasts sharply with historical norms. Trump’s first-term pardons totaled 238, often last-minute; his second-term pace suggests over 2,000 by year’s end, per a December 10 WSJ visual analysis. Ethics watchdogs like Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) have called for reforms, arguing the power invites abuse.

Social media reflects public dismay. On December 25, @BorkReport linked to the WSJ, calling it “not even pretending anymore.” User @…to_the_edge echoed, “Selling pardons? Of course they were.” Conservative @RashadZali1 decried the “extraordinary” openness, while @Matchfyre alleged a “pardon economy.”

Democrats vow oversight. Representative Sean Casten (D-Ill.) condemned the Zhao pardon in a November 6 letter, while Senate Banking Committee members requested information on October 28 about its impact on sanctions enforcement. A Senate resolution on October 23 condemned it as undermining anti-money laundering laws.

Trump’s team dismisses criticism, with the president claiming in a November 3 Axios interview he “didn’t know” Zhao. Yet, Binance’s post-pardon lawsuit by Hamas victims on November 25 underscores the fallout. As 2026 midterms approach, these pardons could become a flashpoint, testing public tolerance for what some call “transactional justice.”