Washington Post: “Since taking office in January, Trump has upended the federal pardoning process, increasing the White House’s authority over a task that until now was largely governed by Justice Department guidelines. Although many presidents have issued controversial pardons and circumvented their lawyers’ advice, Trump has far outpaced his predecessors during the first year of his term and often done so with public flair, relishing one of the few unrestrained powers of the president.”
“People are making money off the new system. Trump’s pardon frenzy has given rise to a lucrative cottage industry of high-powered lawyers connected to the White House who seek his attention on behalf of their convicted clients. In some cases, applicants have hired big-name lawyers who can charge hefty legal fees. In others, clients leverage their own connections to Mar-a-Lago or members of Trump’s inner circle.”
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