President Trump has unleashed a sweeping series of pardons and commutations, drawing attention to high-profile cases and politically connected figures in a bold display of executive power.
In recent days, Trump issued a flurry of clemencies, totaling 13 pardons and eight commutations on Thursday, with an additional pardon announced on Friday for Terren Peizer, a health care executive convicted of insider trading.
Among the recipients are a former Puerto Rico governor, individuals tied to major donors, and a woman whose sentence Trump previously commuted in 2021. These actions, taken during the first year of his second term, also included pardons for reality TV stars and former elected officials with controversial pasts.
The wave of clemencies has sparked significant discussion about the use of presidential power and its implications for justice and public integrity. Supporters contend that Trump is righting wrongs in a system often weaponized by overzealous prosecutors. Critics, however, see a pattern of favoritism and a troubling erosion of accountability.
One notable case involves Adriana Camberos, whose sentence for a scheme involving counterfeit 5-Hour Energy drink bottles was commuted by Trump just before his first term ended in 2021, the Washington Times reported.
She and her co-conspirators had attached fake labels and sold bottles filled with a bogus liquid. Yet, in 2024, Camberos and her brother Andres were convicted in a separate fraud involving discounted groceries meant for specific markets but sold at a profit in the U.S.
Trump’s decision to pardon Camberos again raises questions about whether some individuals are given too many second chances. While justice should allow for redemption, repeating similar schemes suggests a disregard for the law that’s hard to ignore.
Then there’s Terren Peizer, convicted of insider trading to dodge losses over $12.5 million, who received a pardon on Friday. Sentenced to 42 months and fined $5.25 million, Peizer’s case was a flagship for prosecutors—until Trump stepped in. Is this a stand against bureaucratic overreach or a free pass for the well-connected?
Former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez, who pleaded guilty last August to a campaign finance violation, also received a pardon this week. Her sentencing, set for later this month with prosecutors pushing for a year in prison, is now moot.
The case, tied to a Venezuelan banker and a former FBI agent—both also linked to the pardon list—smacks of political intrigue.
Vázquez’s attorneys argued prosecutors breached a plea deal by pushing for jail time after dropping heavier charges like bribery. While plea deals should be honored, pardoning someone before sentencing feels like sidestepping the process entirely. Shouldn’t the courts at least have their say first?
The banker in Vázquez’s case, Julio Herrera Velutini, has a daughter, Isabela Herrera, who donated $2.5 million to Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC in 2024, plus another $1 million last summer. Coincidence? Many will wonder if deep pockets are buying leniency, though no direct evidence proves it.
Trump’s clemency list doesn’t stop there—reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion, also walked free. Add to that former Rep. Michael Grimm, who resigned over tax fraud and once threatened a reporter, and the pattern of controversial figures getting relief is clear.
Even Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas got a pardon in a bribery case, though Trump later expressed regret when Cuellar didn’t switch parties. It’s a rare misstep for a president usually unflinching in his decisions. Still, isn’t consistency in principle worth more than political allegiance?
Previous pardons of figures like former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and ex-Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, both mired in corruption scandals, further fuel the debate. These aren’t small-time offenders but public officials who betrayed trust. Yet, Trump seems to view their prosecutions as vendettas by a vindictive system.
