Senators and Democrats in the US House of Representatives have launched an investigation into the beneficiaries of President Trump’s pardons to determine whether they fall under the “pay to play” dynamic.
For the uninformed, “pay to play” refers to a system in which individuals or corporations make large donations to political campaigns or public officials to receive preferential treatment, government contracts, or in some cases special access, thereby jeopardizing public office.
Letters sent to executive pardon recipients by California Congressmen Dave Min and Raul Ruiz, as well as Vermont Senator Peter Welch, sought information on how recipients could have benefited from the favorable treatment.
The documents obtained by CBS News say President Trump’s pardons deprive victims of compensation and justice. The most prominent leniency recipients include cryptocurrency billionaire Changpeng Zhao, nursing home operator Joseph Schwartz and entrepreneur Trevor Milton.
- Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to money laundering
- Joseph Schwartz was convicted of tax crimes
- Trevor Milton was convicted of lying to an investor and sentenced to four years in prison
The letters argue that Trump’s pardon goes against the principles established by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding clemency: an act of mercy exercised for the public good.
House Democrats have requested information about donations and financial transactions made by clemency recipients to lawyers, lobbyists, social media influencers and others who advocated for their interests before Trump.
Democrats currently do not have subpoena authority and can only seek cooperation from pardon recipients, due to their minorities in the House and Senate.
