WASHINGTON — In a recent move, President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to Stephen Buyer, a former Republican congressman from Indiana. Buyer had previously served nearly two years in prison after being convicted of illegal stock trading based on insider information following his retirement from Congress.
In 2023, Buyer received a 22-month prison sentence for engaging in unlawful trades during his tenure as a consultant and lobbyist. As part of his sentence, Buyer was required to forfeit over $350,000, the amount gained from the illicit activities, and pay a fine of $10,000. He completed his sentence and was released in 2025.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court dismissed Buyer’s appeal without any comment or dissenting opinion.
President Trump’s pardon, described as “full, complete, and unconditional,” acknowledged Buyer’s notable service both as a judge advocate general in the Army and as a productive member of the House. The pardon, dated Thursday, was publicized by the White House late on Friday.
Buyer expressed that the pardon addresses what he views as a “politically motivated prosecution,” stating he found it “horrific to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit.” He continues to assert his innocence.
On May 31, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to share letters advocating for Buyer’s presidential pardon. Buyer, a lawyer and Gulf War veteran, concluded his congressional career in 2011. He was a key figure during the impeachment trial of Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1998 and participated in Trump’s 2016 transition team, focusing on veterans’ affairs.
A letter signed by more than 40 former Republicans in Congress said Buyer was “targeted by the deep state” because of his involvement in Clinton’s trial.
“Like you, Mr. President, Steve has been the victim of lawfare conducted by the Biden Administration,” they wrote in the April 2025 letter.
A second letter, from five current House Republicans, said pardoning Buyer would bring justice to his case. The June 2025 letter was signed by Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ken Calvert of California, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Pete Sessions of Texas.
Buyer, 67, was convicted in connection with insider trading involving the $26.5 billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, announced in April 2018, and illegal trades in the management consulting company Navigant when his client Guidehouse was set to acquire it in a deal publicly disclosed weeks later.
The Constitution gives a president broad power to grant pardons for federal crimes. The pardons do not erase a recipient’s criminal record but can be seen as act of mercy or justice.
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