Trump Pardon Recipients Under Fire as Democrats Probe "Pay-to-Play" Pardon Scheme

Democrats in Congress are turning up the heat on Donald Trump’s corrupt pardon spree, demanding answers about whether his clemency decisions were part of a "pay-to-play" racket. Letters obtained by CBS News reveal that lawmakers are investigating if Trump’s pardons and commutations were doled out in exchange for financial contributions, lobbying, or other favors.

Key figures under scrutiny include cryptocurrency billionaire Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to money laundering; Joseph Schwartz, convicted of tax fraud tied to a $38 million nursing home scam; and Trevor Milton, founder of the bankrupt Nikola automotive company, sentenced to four years for lying to investors. Each received clemency despite serious convictions and outstanding restitution owed to victims.

California Representatives Dave Min and Raul Ruiz, along with Vermont Senator Peter Welch, have sent letters to more than a dozen recipients of Trump’s executive clemency. They demand documents and communications that could reveal whether these pardons were brokered by intermediaries, lawyers, or lobbyists with ties to Trump’s inner circle. The lawmakers also want records of donations to Trump or affiliated groups, highlighting the possibility that the clemency was effectively bought.

The letters emphasize the human cost of Trump’s pardons. By wiping out hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and restitution, these acts of "grace" have denied thousands of victims their day in court and rightful compensation. Welch, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that oversees clemency, called out Trump’s actions as a blatant abuse of power that puts criminals above the law.

One of the clearest examples is Zhao’s pardon, which was pushed by Ches McDowell, a lobbyist connected to Donald Trump Jr., and Teresa Goody Guillén, a lawyer tied to Trump’s Middle East envoy’s family. Public reports link Zhao and Binance to investments in the Trump family’s crypto ventures, raising red flags about conflicts of interest and quid pro quo arrangements. The White House denies any wrongdoing, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissing lobbying for pardons as a waste of money.

This investigation also shines a light on how Trump sidelined the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, traditionally responsible for vetting clemency requests. Liz Oyer, the DOJ’s former pardon attorney, told CBS News that Trump’s White House "appears to be working around" the DOJ, breaking with over a century of precedent and eliminating oversight.

The timing of the investigation is critical. Democrats currently lack subpoena power but hope to reclaim majorities in Congress to compel testimony and documents. The clemency probe could become a major battleground for holding Trump accountable for his brazen corruption and for restoring integrity to a system meant to serve justice, not personal loyalty or financial gain.

As the May 22 deadline for responses looms, those who accepted Trump’s pardons face a stark choice: cooperate and shed light on this corruption, or risk deeper scrutiny and potential criminal investigations. This scandal is more than just political theater — it is a direct assault on the rule of law and the victims left behind by Trump’s reckless abuse of power.