Democrats Investigate Whether Trump’s Pardons Were ‘Pay-To-Play’: Here Are The Big-Time Donors And Business Allies He’s Sprung Free

BreakingBusinessDemocrats Investigate Whether Trump’s Pardons Were ‘Pay-To-Play’: Here Are The Big-Time Donors And Business Allies He’s Sprung FreeByAlison Durkee,Forbes Staff. Alison is a senior news reporter covering US politics and legal news.Follow AuthorMay 07, 2026, 01:28pm EDTToplineDemocratic lawmakers sent letters Thursday to numerous people whose sentences President Donald Trump pardoned or commuted, asking if they received “favorable consideration” or were granted clemency through a “pay-to-play” scheme, as the president has repeatedly drawn controversy for granting clemency to people with direct political or financial ties to him.President Donald Trump walks to Marine One at the White House on Jan. 16.Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reservedTimelineMay 7Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Reps. Dave Min, D-Calif., and Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., asked pardon recipients about the circumstances behind their clemency and whether it was a result of improper political influence or a “quid pro quo”—sending 17 letters, which does not include all of the political donors and allies whom Trump has pardoned.January 16Trump pardoned former Gov. Wanda Vázquez of Puerto Rico, Julio Herrera Velutini, the banker she accepted bribes from, and at least one other co-conspirator involved with her case, after Herrera’s daughter Isabel donated a combined $3.5 million to Trump’s MAGA, Inc. super PAC.Herrera was also represented by Christopher Kise, the president’s former personal attorney, whom the Times reports was able to negotiate an “unusually lenient” plea deal for Herrera with the Trump administration prior to the banker’s pardon.December 5Trump pardoned Tina Peters, a Colorado County clerk who promoted Trump’s claims of election fraud after the 2020 election and was convicted for allowing unauthorized access to voting machines—but the pardon didn’t have any effect, because Peters was pardoned on state, not federal, charges.November 9Trump issued pardons to nearly 80 p...