A pardon for a price? How Donald Trump has reimagined presidential clemency
Al Jazeera
February 15, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
President Donald Trump has drawn significant criticism for redefining the use of presidential clemency as a tool for rewarding loyalty and advancing personal agendas. Unlike his predecessors, Trump has granted clemency to an unprecedented number of individuals, including cryptocurrency billionaires, political allies, and even those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. Critics argue that this approach has turned clemency into a transactional process, favoring the wealthy and powerful while neglecting vulnerable individuals within the justice system.
The practice of presidential clemency dates back to the founding of the United States, with Alexander Hamilton playing a key role in its establishment. Clemency can take two forms: pardons, which forgive federal charges and restore civil liberties, and commutations, which reduce sentences without addressing guilt. While presidents have long faced accusations of abusing this power, Trump’s methods have raised particular concerns due to their overtly political nature.
Historically, the pardon process has been relatively regular and low-key, but recent decades have seen its decline. Under President Bill Clinton, clemency usage dropped as Justice Department leaders became less interested in forwarding recommendations. However, towards the end of his term, Clinton granted a controversial batch of pardons, including one to Marc Rich, a financier with ties to Hillary Clinton’s political career. This marked a turning point in the perception of clemency as a tool for political gain.
Experts warn that Trump’s approach risks normalizing the use of clemency as a reward for loyalty rather than as an instrument of justice. By focusing on high-profile figures and political allies, Trump has narrowed the scope of clemency to serve his agenda, potentially setting a dangerous precedent for future administrations. This shift raises important questions about the balance between executive power and fairness in the justice system, making it a critical issue for anyone interested in the state of democracy and governance in the United States.
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/15/2026