The New York Times reports that lobbyists and lawyers close to Donald Trump have been selling chances for criminals to receive a pardon from the president for tens of thousands of dollars. The report relies on documents and interviews with around 40 people involved.

Only two people running this scheme are identified by name: Brett Tolman, a White House adviser and former federal prosecutor, and John Dowd, previously a personal attorney for Trump. Others are selling their proximity to the president, too.

One of the felons looking to purchase a pardon paid $50,000 to a former Trump campaign adviser. He was then referred to Rudy Giuliani by someone who claimed Trump’s attorney could help him score a pardon in exchange for $2 million.

Court documents released on December 1, 2020, revealed that the Justice Department is investigating a similar scheme.

Source

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/us/politics/trump-pardons.html

Photo: Gage Skidmore