Trump's Departure Spurs Pardon Lobbyists to 'Cash In'

Trump Associates Lobbyists Receive Large Sums in Exchange for Pardons
Concerns Over Undermining Judicial System Fairness

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] As the end of U.S. President Donald Trump's term approaches on the 20th, close associates and lobbyists are experiencing a boom. Analysts say this is because many are flocking to seek pardons just before President Trump's departure.

The New York Times reported this on the 17th (local time), citing dozens of lobbyists.

According to the NYT, a member of Trump's election campaign received a $50,000 retainer fee to secure a pardon for John Kiriakou, who was convicted for leaking classified information as a CIA employee. If the pardon is granted, an additional $50,000 will be paid as a success fee.

If former New York City Mayor and Trump's personal lawyer Rudolph Giuliani steps in to secure Kiriakou's pardon, a "price tag" of $2 million has been set.

The NYT revealed that John Dowd, Trump's former personal lawyer, used his relationship with the president to receive tens of thousands of dollars from violent criminals in exchange for offering pardons as bait.

Brett Tolman, a former federal prosecutor turned lobbyist who has advised the White House on pardons, recently collected large fees conditioned on pardons from the founder of the illegal online black market Silk Road, the son of a former senator, and a New York Manhattan socialite involved in fraudulent activities.

The NYT reported that the pardon lobbying market formed as President Trump emphasized his willingness to accept the election results.

Margaret Love, who handled pardon-related work at the Department of Justice, criticized to the NYT, "Such deals undermine the Department of Justice's long-standing efforts to uphold fairness in the process."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.