Senate and House Democrats have launched an investigation into whether pardons and commutations issued by President Trump were driven by "pay-to-play dynamics," according to letters obtained by CBS News.
Among the pardons being probed by lawmakers are those granted to cryptocurrency billionaire Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to money laundering; nursing home operator Joseph Schwartz, who was convicted of tax crimes; and entrepreneur Trevor Milton, sentenced to four years in prison in 2023 after being convicted of lying to investors.
On Thursday, California Reps. Dave Min and Raul Ruiz, as well as Vermont Sen. Peter Welch, sent letters to more than a dozen recipients of executive clemency — seeking to unearth how they may have received favorable treatment from Mr. Trump or his advisers "through intermediaries, financial contributions, or other forms of influence."
The Democrats are also examining the impact of pardons and commutations on thousands of financial victims. The letters note that Mr. Trump's acts of clemency are "depriving victims of compensation and justice," citing the president's elimination of hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution — money owed to crime victims — and fines.
