A White House spokesperson has dismissed claims suggesting President Donald Trump’s administration was influenced by ‘pardon brokers.’ This issue surfaced during CBS’ “60 Minutes” segment on reported lobbyists negotiating presidential pardons based on alleged connections to the president.
The season premiere of the established news program explored how lobbyists allegedly sought presidential pardons for specific clients. Lesley Stahl, a correspondent, noted that presidents have exercised the constitutional power to pardon since George Washington’s time. She mentioned that while the Department of Justice typically recommends applicants seeking mercy, the process can vary. For instance, President Ford pardoned Richard Nixon, and President Clinton pardoned Marc Rich after donations. Additionally, President Biden has pardoned individuals including his son Hunter and Anthony Fauci.
The “60 Minutes” segment highlighted how individuals allegedly hired pardon brokers, lawyers, and lobbyists to influence presidential pardoning decisions. The program suggested that these professionals negotiated for mercy by leveraging connections to the president.
Lauren Bis, a White House spokesperson, refuted the notion that Trump was swayed by lobbyists in his decision-making process for pardons. She pointed out the administration’s stringent pardon review process, involving the White House counsel, the Department of Justice, pardon czar Alice Johnson, and ultimately President Trump himself. Bis criticized former President Joe Biden’s pardons, which, she claimed, released many violent offenders.
In her comments, Bis stressed that spending money on lobbying for pardons is futile, as the President is unaware of these so-called ‘lobbyists.’ She criticized Biden’s clemency actions, citing the release of violent criminals, including child killers and mass murderers.
Amid discussions about the “60 Minutes” segment, mass firings at the network have taken place. Former employees like Guy Campanile have suggested these changes occurred due to resistance against aligning with “White House talking points.” He stated that the program did not compromise its integrity by adopting unverified claims or administration-arranged interviews.
Lindsay Kornick, an associate editor for Fox News Digital, contributed to this report. You can reach her for story tips at [email protected] or on Twitter: @lmkornick.
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