Summary
Overview
This episode of The Daily explores how the pardon process under President Trump has evolved into a lucrative 'pardon industry' where wealthy individuals with connections to Trump or his inner circle can secure clemency through lobbying, donations, and direct appeals. Reporter Ken Vogel traces the development from Trump's first-term criminal justice reform efforts to a transactional system where influence-peddlers charge enormous fees to help clients obtain pardons.
The Emergence of Corruption as a Top Campaign Issue
As the midterm elections approach, corruption has become a dominant concern for American voters, with 88% worried about government corruption and 66% believing Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself. This episode examines one major source of that perception: how those around the president have transformed the pardon process into a business opportunity, creating what reporter Ken Vogel calls the 'pardon industry.'
- 88% of voters in Fox News polling said corruption in government worries them most
- 66% of respondents believe Trump is using the presidency to enrich himself, up from 56% last fall
- A network of lobbying and law firms charge large fees to wealthy people seeking pardons or commutations
" It is a network of lobbying and law firms and individual lawyers and consultants who have close ties or at least advertise having close ties to the president and charge quite large fees to wealthy people who are either charged with, have been convicted, are serving time for crimes and want to get clemency. "
Trump's Unique Approach to Presidential Pardons
Trump has largely abandoned the traditional Justice Department vetting process for pardons in favor of a more personal, unilateral approach that prioritizes connections to him over traditional criteria like remorse or rehabilitation. His use of clemency appeals to his view of the justice system as unfair and allows him to exercise what Ken Vogel describes as a 'truly monarchical power' without checks or balances.
- Trump disregarded the Justice Department process that identifies worthy recipients based on criteria like showing remorse and paying back victims
- Trump's approach makes it more important to have connections to him and appeal to his grievances about the justice system
- The pardon power is derived from the royal prerogative of mercy and can be used without checks or balances
" It is truly a monarchical power. I mean, it is derived from the royal prerogative of mercy. That is the king's or queen's ability to essentially wave away consequences for crimes. "
" It's a little like Oprah. You get a pardon. You get a pardon. You don't get a pardon. "
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