Donald Trump's significant increase in
presidential pardons during his second term has attracted intense lobbying efforts, with
millions of dollars being offered to secure clemency for
wealthy convicted clients.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump's pardon activity stands in stark contrast to his first term. Previously, he issued only one early pardon before granting approximately 140 acts of clemency in his final days in office. Less than one year into his second term,
Trump has already issued pardons to over
1,500 individuals on his first day and subsequently pardoned 87 additional people and corporations.
The explosion in pardon activity has created what the Journal describes as a "pardon-shopping industry," with lobbyists charging standard rates of $1 million for their services. The report notes that pardon-seekers have offered lobbyists success fees as high as $6 million upon securing a pardon.