Jeremy Hutchinson, a former Arkansas state senator, received clemency after convictions for fraud and bribery tied to misuse of campaign funds.
His pardon, issued during Trump’s final batch of clemencies, sparked a mix of muted reactions, with some acknowledging Hutchinson’s political career prior to his offenses and others pointing to broader concerns of favoritism in pardoning public officials.
Conservative commentator and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza pleaded guilty to making illegal campaign contributions in 2014. Trump issued D’Souza a full pardon in 2018, stating that he had been treated unfairly.
For supporters, the pardon symbolized Trump correcting what they perceived as overly harsh punishment rooted in political bias. Critics, meanwhile, saw it as another example of Trump favoring loyal allies.
Real estate developer Charles Kushner, the father of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, was pardoned in December 2020. He had served time for tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions. The choice to pardon Kushner was heavily scrutinized, with critics focusing on the familial connection and potential conflicts of interest.
Supporters claimed it acknowledged personal redemption and the positive community work Kushner had engaged in since his release.
Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, faced convictions for financial crimes, including tax fraud, bank fraud, and unregistered lobbying on behalf of foreign governments. His case was one of the most prominent to stem from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Trump pardoned Manafort in December 2020. Supporters saw the pardon as rectifying what they viewed as politically motivated prosecution, while critics labeled it a misuse of executive power.
Known for their reality TV series Chrisley Knows Best, Todd and Julie Chrisley became embroiled in legal trouble related to tax evasion and fraud allegations. The couple was accused of submitting falsified documents to banks to secure loans and of hiding income to evade taxes.
Their case attracted public and media attention, especially given their high-profile lifestyle. President Trump’s decision to pardon them came as a surprise to some, while others saw it as consistent with his penchant for high-profile clemency decisions.
Longtime political operative and Trump ally Roger Stone was convicted of lying to Congress, tampering with witnesses, and obstructing an investigation into Russian election interference. Stone’s combative persona made his case a media spectacle.
Trump commuted Stone’s sentence in July 2020 and later issued him a full pardon. This move drew praise from Stone’s supporters but sharp criticism from those who believed it sent the wrong message about accountability.
Rapper Lil Wayne, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was pardoned in January 2021 after pleading guilty to a federal weapons charge. Known for his endorsement of Trump during the 2020 campaign, his pardon drew criticism from those who viewed it as politically motivated.
Supporters argued it was a second chance for a widely beloved artist who had already faced substantial legal challenges in his career.
A key figure early in Trump’s presidency, Michael Flynn served briefly as National Security Advisor before resigning amid controversy. Flynn later pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI about his communications with a Russian ambassador.
Trump’s pardon of Flynn came in November 2020, widely viewed as a gesture of loyalty to a longtime supporter. While Flynn’s pardon pleased many Trump allies, critics argued that it undermined accountability for public officials.
Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, was charged with defrauding donors in a fundraising campaign purportedly aimed at building a southern border wall. Despite facing prosecution, Bannon received a pardon from Trump in January 2021, just before leaving office.
The pardon drew sharp criticism, as many saw it as excusing financial wrongdoing. However, supporters of the decision defended Bannon’s role in populist political advocacy.
Unlike some others on this list, Alice Marie Johnson wasn’t a political player. Johnson, a first-time offender, had been serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense. Her case received national attention after high-profile advocates, including Kim Kardashian, lobbied for her release. Trump commuted her sentence in 2018 and later granted her a full pardon in 2020.
Johnson’s release was widely celebrated as a step forward in criminal justice reform, though some questioned whether Trump’s focus on her case was part of a larger political strategy.
Another high-profile figure from the music world, rapper Kodak Black, whose real name is Bill K. Kapri, received a commutation for his 46-month sentence for falsifying information on federal forms to buy firearms.
Like Lil Wayne, Kodak Black had publicly expressed support for Trump, and his clemency prompted similar reactions, with some applauding his release while others questioned the motivations behind it.
Following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Donald Trump issued pardons to several individuals connected to the day's events. These decisions sparked widespread controversy, with critics arguing they undermined accountability for one of the most significant breaches of democracy in modern history. Supporters of the pardons claimed the actions were politically motivated justice that addressed perceived overreach in prosecutions. The pardons highlighted the divisive opinions surrounding the event and raised questions about the use of executive clemency.
Some who received pardons later found themselves in further legal trouble or faced tragic personal outcomes. Reports emerged of individuals reoffending, returning to incarceration, or meeting untimely deaths due to various circumstances. These cases brought renewed focus on the long-lasting ripple effects of the January 6th riot, illustrating how the consequences of that day continue to unfold for both those directly involved and the broader political landscape. The pardons remain a stark example of how legal and personal complexities can intertwine with broader national discourse.
Conrad Black, a former media mogul convicted of fraud and obstruction of justice in 2007, received a full pardon in 2019. Black, who had written a flattering biography of Trump, described his former conviction as unjust.
While the pardon reignited debates about Trump's use of clemency for allies, Black's supporters viewed it as a rightful correction of a legal wrong.
Another figure linked to the Mueller investigation, George Papadopoulos, was convicted of making false statements to the FBI regarding his contacts with Russian nationals during the 2016 campaign. Trump pardoned Papadopoulos in December 2020, citing the investigation’s alleged unfairness.
While the pardon won applause from Papadopoulos and Trump loyalists, opponents viewed it as a dismissal of serious legal concerns.
Known as the "junk bond king," Michael Milken was convicted of securities fraud and related charges in 1990. Trump granted him a pardon in February 2020, citing Milken’s philanthropic efforts following his release.
The move reignited conversations about fairness in the criminal justice system and how wealth and influence can play a role in clemency decisions.
Joe Arpaio, the former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, was pardoned in 2017 after his conviction for criminal contempt of court. Arpaio had defied a court order to halt racial profiling practices targeting undocumented immigrants.
A staunch Trump ally, his pardon was one of the first in Trump’s presidency and drew sharp criticism from civil rights groups, who viewed it as a tacit approval of discriminatory practices.
Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, was granted a commutation in February 2020, reducing his 14-year corruption sentence. Blagojevich, convicted of attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat, maintained his innocence.
Trump cited the length of the sentence as excessive while critics saw the commutation as undermining anti-corruption efforts.
A relatively lesser-known pardon, Scott Jenkins was convicted in the early 1990s for financial offenses related to a savings and loan crisis.
Trump highlighted his clean record since the conviction and positive contributions to his community as reasons for the pardon, which largely flew under the radar without significant public backlash or attention.
