Trump's pardon industry

Alternet -    Trump isn't shy about issuing presidential pardons for his allies. On his first night back in the White House, Trump pardoned hundreds of rioters who violently attacked the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.

In an article published on March 6, New York Times reporter Kenneth P. Vogel emphasizes that Trump's use of presidential pardons isn't merely a matter of policy — it is an "industry."

According to Vogel, a "lucrative pardon industry" has "emerged around Mr. Trump."

"It is based in part on the proposition that paying the right person to deliver a message tailored to Mr. Trump's politics or grievances is more important than demonstrating remorse or a low likelihood of recidivism," Vogel explains. "A growing number of practitioners promise access in this murky enterprise, but some also may exaggerate their effectiveness to elicit payments from clients desperate to avoid incarceration. Pardon seekers routinely offer to pay as much as $1 million or more, often with bonus payments triggered by a successful outcome, according to lobbying filings and people familiar with the fees."