Trump’s Unprecedented Pardons: Wealthy Offenders and Missing Restitution

President Trump has issued pardons that have eliminated over $1 billion in debts owed by wealthy individuals convicted of fraud and other crimes. These debts often include financial penalties imposed as part of a criminal sentence, as well as restitution payments intended to compensate victims for their losses. By granting pardons to these individuals, President Trump effectively leaves victims without the restitution they are entitled to receive.

Within just 4.5 months in office, Trump pardoned 58 people, excluding those pardons related to the January 6, 2021 events. A full pardon cancels any required payments associated with a criminal conviction. During this period, Trump surpassed nearly all post-World War II presidents in the number of clemency actions—pardons and commutations—he granted, largely due to the approximately 1,500 pardons he issued to those involved in the January 6 Capitol attack.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee noted in a March 2025 letter that individuals pardoned for January 6-related offenses collectively owed nearly $3 million in restitution before receiving their pardons. This scale of pardons wiping out significant fraud-related debts is unprecedented in American history.

For a president who has positioned himself as a champion of “law and order,” the decision to pardon numerous wealthy individuals raises questions about the motivations behind these clemency actions and whether they serve legitimate purposes.