Trump’s Pardon Powers Raise Controversy
President Donald Trump’s bold use of presidential clemency is once again dominating headlines, sparking outrage from Democrats and even a few uneasy Republicans. But to millions of Americans, Trump is doing exactly what he promised—undoing years of political persecution carried out under Joe Biden’s weaponized Justice Department.
Trump has long criticized Biden’s suspicious and sometimes machine-signed autopen pardons. Now, critics are turning their attention to Trump’s own decisions—decisions his supporters say are finally restoring fairness after years of targeted political prosecutions.
Correcting Biden-Era “Witch Hunts”
From the start of his second term, President Trump promised to expose corruption inside the federal government. One of his first major actions: granting clemency to nearly all Americans prosecuted after January 6th, cases he says were fueled by politics, not justice.
And he didn’t stop there.
Trump moved swiftly to pardon multiple Republicans prosecuted during Biden’s presidency and even granted relief to business leaders targeted by what he calls Biden’s anti-industry agenda.
The message: If you were persecuted under Biden’s DOJ, Trump wants your case reviewed.
The Honduras Pardon That Set Off a Media Frenzy
The biggest flashpoint came when Trump pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.
Democrats called it “outrageous.” A few GOP lawmakers expressed discomfort. But Trump was direct:
“This was another Biden Witch Hunt. Total disgrace.”
Hernández was convicted of narcotics charges—charges Trump argues were inflated, politicized, and pushed aggressively by Biden prosecutors desperate for foreign “wins.”
The White House responded immediately:
“President Trump is defending America. Biden weaponized the DOJ. Trump is correcting the record.”
Democrats Claim ‘Scandal’—Trump Calls It Justice
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) accused Trump of running a “money-making operation.”
The Trump White House hit back hard:
“The only scandal is Biden’s autopen pardons for violent criminals—including murderers.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson blasted Biden’s legacy of soft-on-crime decisions:
“President Autopen pardoned killers. President Trump is protecting Americans.”
This message resonates strongly with older conservative voters who watched violent crime spike under Biden.
More Biden-Era Cases Reversed
Trump’s focus on correcting political prosecutions has led to several major clemency decisions:
✔ Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao – Pardoned
Trump later joked he didn’t even know Zhao personally—but called the prosecution “overreach.”
✔ Investment Executive David Gentile – Sentence Commuted
The White House said prosecutors “could not tie any fraudulent statements to Gentile.”
✔ Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and His Wife – Pardoned
Trump said Biden targeted Cuellar for refusing to back the administration’s weak border policies.
“Sleepy Joe went after him and his wonderful wife for telling the truth.”
Cuellar becomes the latest figure—Republican or Democrat—whose Biden-era indictment was wiped away by Trump.
High-Profile Supporters Also Received Relief
This year, Trump granted clemency to several well-known political names:
- George Santos – former GOP congressman
- Michael Grimm – former Republican representative
- Rod Blagojevich – Democrat governor turned Trump supporter
All had been prosecuted under what Trump slams as “Biden’s corrupt DOJ machine.”
White House: Trump Is Fixing What Biden Broke
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt summarized the administration’s view:
“President Trump takes every pardon seriously. He wants to help Americans who were abused by Biden’s DOJ.”
The White House insists Trump’s goal isn’t political—it’s restoration.
Restoring justice. Restoring fairness. Restoring trust in a system Biden, they say, turned into a tool against his opponents.
