Trump Grants Pardons to Jan. 6 Defendants as White-Collar Criminals Erase $1.3 Billion in Legal Debts

House Democrats released a report on Tuesday alleging that President Donald Trump has utilized his pardon authority to eliminate restitution payments for numerous convicted criminals since taking office in January. They claim that this extensive clemency initiative has erased over $1.3 billion in debts owed to victims and the federal government, aligning with their characterization of the Trump administration as an “emerging gangster state.”

Since his inauguration, Trump has pardoned approximately 1,600 individuals, many of whom were involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The list of those receiving clemency also includes figures like former Chicago Mayor Rod Blagojevich and Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the dark web marketplace Silk Road.

A memo released by the House Judiciary Committee cited various instances where pardons have nullified restitution, civil forfeitures, and fines. This, the committee argues, contravenes established Justice Department policies that traditionally govern clemency requests.

“President Trump’s corrupt pardon spree is a massive, undeserved giveaway to high-rolling fraudsters, crooked politicians, violent extremists, and unrepentant offenders,” the memo stated. In analyzing publicly available data, Democrats highlighted that roughly $3 million in restitution for Capitol riot-related convictions was cleared by the White House.

One notable example is Lewis Snoots, who received a prison sentence exceeding five years and was mandated to pay about $99,000 in restitution. However, Trump’s broad pardon for individuals involved in the Capitol incident exonerated Snoots from that financial obligation.

Democrats also addressed the restitution and penalties that were dismissed for white-collar criminals. Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a double life sentence, escaped nearly $184 million in a civil forfeiture following his pardon from Trump. Devon Archer, convicted of securities fraud, was released from approximately $43 million in restitution.

The memo emphasized how Paul Walczak, a former nursing home executive convicted of employment tax fraud, benefited from a pardon that canceled $4.4 million in restitution. Notably, Walczak’s pardon followed a $1 million payment made by his mother to attend a Trump fundraiser.

Lawmakers condemned the Trump administration for compromising public safety by allowing pardoned individuals to retain funds that should have been directed to their victims. They argued that such actions contradict the Justice Department’s long-standing criteria for considering clemency petitions, which stipulate that petitioners should take responsibility for their actions and make restitution.

Furthermore, attempts to access the cited manual on the Justice Department’s website led to a broken link, as the contents had migrated to an archived section. “The majority of Americans want a society where crime doesn’t pay,” the Democrats noted, criticizing Trump’s actions as facilitating an environment where wrongdoing is financially rewarded, particularly for those engaging in political violence or white-collar fraud.

The Justice Department did not respond immediately to requests for comment. As of May, Ed Martin has been appointed to review pardon requests, following Trump’s retraction of his nomination as D.C.’s federal prosecutor amid dwindling support among Senate Republicans. Martin is currently also managing efforts addressing claims of “weaponization” of the justice system under the Biden administration.