WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump’s second term has seen an unprecedented surge in clemency grants, exceeding 1,560. A prevailing “No MAGA left behind” sentiment appears to guide this process, or at least that’s the perception, as individuals seeking pardons increasingly align themselves with the president’s long-standing critiques of the judicial system.
The vast majority of these pardons have gone to celebrities, politicians, loyalists, and donors, including many connected to the January 6 Capitol riot. These beneficiaries have often echoed Trump’s own claims that the justice system is being “weaponized” against them for political reasons.
This pattern was underscored when Ed Martin, the Department of Justice’s pardon attorney, explicitly stated the administration’s priority on X after Trump pardoned former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins for conspiracy to commit bribery: “No MAGA left behind.”
Democrats Join the Fray, Mirroring Trump’s Rhetoric
The perception of a politically motivated pardon process has led even some Democrats to adopt Trump’s rhetoric in their pursuit of clemency. Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat recently sentenced to 11 years in prison, has publicly engaged in a thinly veiled plea for a pardon. On X, he authored multiple lengthy posts detailing his alleged victimhood from the “weaponization of the Justice Department,” directly tagging the president and writing, “President Trump is right. This process is political and has been corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores integrity to the system.” As of now, Menendez has not received a pardon.
Similarly, New York Mayor Eric Adams, also a Democrat, appeared to actively seek a pardon in his recently dismissed federal corruption case. Adams reportedly showed up at Trump’s inauguration – a decision that drew criticism from Black political and religious leaders in New York who viewed it as prioritizing a pardon over his constituents. His case was ultimately dismissed after he signaled a willingness to assist the Trump administration on immigration and national security matters.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields defended the president’s actions, stating Trump is wielding his pardon powers “to right many wrongs” and operating “within his constitutional authority,” while criticizing past pardons by President Biden.
Celebrity Pardons and Strategic Support
Reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley represent another high-profile example of successful pardon bids. Convicted of bank and wire fraud in 2022, they received pardons from Trump in late May after a relentless public campaign by their daughter, Savannah. She publicly supported Trump throughout his 2024 presidential campaign, even appearing at the Republican National Convention to argue that the justice system was unfairly targeting both her family and Trump. After their pardon, the Chrisleys held a press conference thanking the administration and, notably, previewing their new TV series.
Bypassing Traditional Channels
Karen Hult, a political science professor at Virginia Tech specializing in presidential powers, notes that while presidents exercising clemency in areas of personal interest isn’t entirely new, Trump’s frequent circumvention of the Justice Department’s traditional pardon process is “especially distinctive.” Trump has, for the first time in modern history, replaced the head of the DOJ’s pardon office with a political appointee, Ed Martin, a vocal MAGA figure who has defended January 6 defendants and previously fired prosecutors pursuing riot-related cases.
A DOJ spokesperson maintained that the office “administers the executive process, reviews applications… and makes recommendations… that are consistent, unbiased, and uphold the rule of law.” A senior administration official echoed this, stating that each case is individually reviewed by the DOJ, Martin, and pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson (herself a recipient of a 2020 Trump pardon).
Not All Pardoned Seek the Narrative
Intriguingly, not every pardon recipient embraces Trump’s “weaponized DOJ” narrative. Pam Hemphill, known as “MAGA Granny” for her involvement in the Capitol riot, rejected a pardon from Trump, despite receiving one on his first day in office. Hemphill, who has since apologized for her actions and spoken against the president, stated, “I cannot have this happen, because then I’m part of Trump’s narrative that the DOJ is weaponized.” She believes Trump’s extensive pardons are part of his broader effort to construct a “deep state” narrative.
Furthermore, some pardons appear to lack obvious political ties. Tanner Mansell and John Moore Jr., pardoned for a 2022 theft conviction related to freeing what they believed were illegally captured sharks, represent an outlier. Mansell, a professional shark diver, states his legal team never applied for a pardon and he avoids political commentary. He hopes his pardon “wasn’t just politically driven” but rather a result of Trump recognizing an injustice. “I’d love to ask him, like, ‘Hey, did you do this because you like sharks?’” Mansell mused.
