White House officials are working on a plan for President Donald Trump to pardon 250 convicts in celebration of the United States’ 250 years of independence.
Trump has not yet been presented with the idea, and the proposal may not reach the president’s desk because his advisers are split on how the move would be received.
Some advisers told the Atlantic that the move would portray Trump as “merciful,” an image the president has long sought. Additionally, those in favor told the outlet the mass pardons would act as a correction to what they view as “weaponization” of the justice system.
However, lobbyists and lawyers close to Trump say the idea, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, quickly caused a frenzy among those seeking clemency for their crimes. The outlet reported in May that there was concern about how the proposed pardons would affect the midterm elections, which are vital to the GOP maintaining control of Congress.
At that time, a White House official told the Washington Examiner that Trump is the decision-maker on presidential pardons. The official said on Tuesday that there have been no changes from their previous stance.
The possibility of Trump potentially granting clemency to hundreds of individuals sent shockwaves through the justice system, as the mere idea piqued the interest of convicts, including Martin Shkreli, dubbed the “Pharma bro,” and Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.
Shkreli was convicted on securities fraud and conspiracy charges in 2017 and was released in 2022. His celebrity stems from his decision to raise the price of the antiparasitic drug Daraprim from $13.50 to $750 per pill in 2015, an action unrelated to his convictions.
The “Pharma bro” previously told the Washington Examiner that the idea of “250 pardons for 250 years” was “one of the catalysts that brought me to just finally file” for clemency.
HIGH-PROFILE CONVICTS LOBBY FOR RUMORED TRUMP PARDONS AHEAD OF 250TH ANNIVERSARY
Holmes is serving an 11-year prison sentence for defrauding investors and filed for clemency in January, but responded to Shkreli’s filing announcement saying, “May the odds be ever in your favor,” a quote from the “Hunger Games” movie series.
Trump has granted many pardons in his second term, including clemency to 1,500 January 6 defendants on the day of his inauguration. Justice Department data shows roughly 5,100 clemency petitions were filed in 2024, but that figure later surged to more than 16,000 the following year, when Trump took office.