As Independence Day approaches, lobbyists are reportedly being inundated with calls amid talk that Donald Trump’s administration is weighing as many as 250 pardons to mark the holiday.
The proposal, described by some as “250 pardons for 250 years,” has triggered a scramble among people seeking to clear criminal records, according to multiple current and former Trump officials, lobbyists, attorneys and others close to the President who spoke with The Atlantic.
One defense lawyer compared the rush to “a three-ring circus,” while a former Trump official described the situation as “bats*** crazy.”
A lobbyist said the barrage became so intense that he switched off his phone after receiving what he characterized as “aggressive” pardon requests.
“I’m exhausted,” another attorney told the publication. “In 30 years of practicing law, I’ve never seen anything like this.”
The reported effort has divided the President’s advisers. Supporters believe it could energize a key segment of the MAGA base, while critics warn that such a move could draw backlash during an election year.
“While there are always ongoing policy conversations about how to best act on the President’s priorities, no decisions have been made nor has any action been taken,” a White House official told the Daily Mail.
Still, Trump has repeatedly told confidantes that he would pardon “anyone who came within 250 feet of the Oval Office,” according to Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan’s new book, Regime Change.
President Donald Trump and ‘Pardon Czar’ Alice Johnson at the White House. Johnson has reportedly been advocating for the 250 pardon idea
Trump pardoned over 1,700 individuals in his second term, including some January 6 Captiol rioters who were convicted. Above, some far-right members of the Proud Boys group are pictured awaiting the release of January 6 rioters
Some lawyers familiar with the White House’s pardon shop shared that it could cost clients millions to secure a pardon.
‘It is general knowledge in our practice that for $2 million, you can have a pardon,’ an attorney told The Atlantic.
Criminals sentenced by judges appointed by former Presidents Barack Obama or Joe Biden are expected to fare better in their quests for pardons than those sentenced by judges appointed by Trump, according to sources familiar with the process.
People in Trump’s orbit who have no experience with law or pardons have even been approached to use their influence to clean the records of some petitioning for clemency.
These individuals claimed that $1 million to $2 million was the ‘going rate,’ the Atlantic reported.
Typically, those seeking pardons apply for them through the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, which is charged with evaluating the cases before giving recommendations to the President.
However, sources told the outlet that there is also an informal network of intermediaries to the White House that has replaced the DOJ’s process.
These intermediaries reportedly use their connections to the White House to advocate for pardons in exchange for a fee.
The ‘250 for 250’ pardon effort reportedly has been supported by Trump’s ‘Pardon Czar’ Alice Johnson, DOJ attorney Edward R Martin Jr, and others in the President’s inner circle.
Among those pardoned by Trump so far were Todd Chrisley (left) and Julie Chrisley (right), who previously starred in the reality TV show, Chrisley Knows Best
Former Republican representative George Santos had his sentence commuted by President Trump last year
Trump has already signed a slew of pardons since returning to the White House last January, starting with the controversial order to pardon January 6 defendants.
The President also pardoned more colorful characters like imprisoned reality TV stars, Todd and Julie Chrisley, and commuted sentences, including that of jailed former Republican Representative George Santos.
Overall, Trump has already pardoned some 1,700 people in his second term.
That is in comparison to President Joe Biden, who only pardoned 80 individuals but commuted the sentences of more than 4,100 people.
The 250 pardon plan was first reported last month by the Wall Street Journal.
