Pardons & Revenge

Crime: Various charges related to January 6 Capitol attack including assault, seditious conspiracy

Trump pardoned or commuted sentences for approximately 1,500 January 6 defendants on his first day back in office, including those convicted of assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Critics said this signaled tolerance for political violence; supporters argued many defendants had been subject to excessive prosecution.

Crime: Seditious conspiracy for planning January 6 attack

Rhodes was the leader of the Oath Keepers militia convicted of seditious conspiracy — the most serious charge from January 6. He led a paramilitary operation against the U.S. Capitol. Trump commuted his 18-year sentence.

Crime: Seditious conspiracy for leading Proud Boys' January 6 attack

Tarrio was the Proud Boys chairman sentenced to 22 years — the longest Jan 6 sentence. Despite not being physically present, he orchestrated the attack. Trump commuted his sentence on day one.

Action: N/A — DOJ investigations into prosecutors who charged Trump

Trump directed investigations into Jack Smith, Fani Willis, Letitia James, and Alvin Bragg — the four prosecutors who brought cases against him. Critics characterized this as undermining rule of law by using presidential power against those who pursued legal accountability; supporters said it was exposing prosecutorial misconduct.

Action: N/A — Mass firing of independent government watchdogs

On his first night in office, Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general — the independent watchdogs who investigate government waste, fraud, and abuse. This mass firing removed oversight from virtually every federal agency simultaneously.

Crime: Obstruction, false statements, witness tampering in Russia investigation

Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and tampering with witnesses to protect Trump. Prosecutors said Stone lied to "protect the president." Trump commuted his sentence then fully pardoned him.

Crime: Tax fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy against the US, witness tampering

Manafort was Trump's 2016 campaign chairman who was convicted on multiple felonies. He did not cooperate with the Mueller investigation and subsequently received a pardon in December 2020.

Crime: Lying to the FBI about Russian contacts

Flynn was Trump's National Security Advisor who pleaded guilty twice to lying to the FBI about contacts with Russian Ambassador Kislyak. Trump granted him a full pardon in November 2020. In March 2026, the DOJ settled Flynn's lawsuit against the government for $1.2 million. Critics argued the pardon was intended to prevent further cooperation with the Russia investigation; supporters said the prosecution was politically motivated.

Action: N/A — Retaliatory investigations against those who investigated him

Trump ordered DOJ to investigate members of the Jan 6 Committee, particularly Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson. Legal experts and former officials characterized this as using prosecutorial power to target political opponents; the administration said it was pursuing potential misconduct in the committee's operations.

Crime: Fraud — We Build the Wall scheme that defrauded Trump supporters

Bannon was charged with defrauding Trump's own supporters through a border wall fundraising scam. Trump pardoned him on his last day in office.

Crime: Tax evasion, witness tampering, illegal campaign contributions

Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law. He was convicted of hiring a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, then sending the recording to his sister to prevent her testimony. Later appointed Ambassador to France in second term.

Crime: War crimes charges — posing with corpse of ISIS fighter, other allegations

Navy SEAL accused of stabbing a captive ISIS fighter to death and shooting civilians. Despite his own teammates testifying against him, Trump intervened to restore his rank after partial conviction, overruling military justice.

Crime: Criminal contempt of court for defying court order to stop racial profiling

Arpaio's tent city jail was called a "concentration camp" by Arpaio himself. He was convicted for refusing to stop racially profiling Latinos. Trump pardoned him before sentencing.

Action: N/A — Retaliatory removal of clearances from critics

Trump revoked security clearances of former intelligence officials who had publicly criticized him, including John Bolton, John Brennan, and James Clapper. Critics said the revocations were retaliation for political speech rather than based on security concerns.

Crime: Lying to the FBI about Russian contacts during 2016 campaign

Papadopoulos was a Trump campaign foreign policy advisor who lied to the FBI about his contacts with Russian-linked individuals. His arrest helped trigger the Mueller investigation.

Crime: Arson on federal land — sparked armed militia standoff

Trump pardoned Dwight and Steven Hammond, whose arson conviction on federal land sparked the Bundy militia occupation of a federal wildlife refuge. Critics said the pardons emboldened anti-government militia movements.

Crime: Obstruction of justice, perjury, making false statements (Valerie Plame affair)

Libby was VP Cheney's chief of staff convicted of obstructing the investigation into who leaked CIA officer Valerie Plame's identity. Critics said the pardon signaled that obstructing investigations on behalf of superiors would not carry lasting consequences.

Crime: Lying to the FBI about contacts with Rick Gates and a Russian intelligence operative

Van der Zwaan was a Dutch lawyer who lied to investigators about his work with Manafort and Gates. Pardoned as part of the sweep of Russia investigation convicts.

Crime: Campaign finance fraud — using straw donors to illegally funnel money

D'Souza is a conservative commentator who pleaded guilty to using straw donors. Trump pardoned him in 2018. D'Souza had previously produced political documentaries supportive of Trump.