Trump Flexes Pardoning Superpower

President Donald Trump’s return to power has triggered a rush for presidential clemency among white-collar criminals, crypto figures, and convicted politicians.

Rather than appealing to judges or juries, these individuals are tailoring their pleas to the ultimate decision-maker in the Oval Office.

Given Trump’s history of criticising the US justice system, many see an opportunity to frame themselves as victims of the same corruption they claim led to their convictions.

High-profile figures—including Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), Bob Menendez, Roger Ver ‘Bitcoin Jesus’, and Joby Weeks—are among those seeking pardons, alongside a broader group of fraudsters, tax evaders, and exiled businessmen.

Some are aligning their cases with Trump’s grievances, while others are reportedly offering political leverage in exchange for leniency.

The trend has not gone unnoticed.

Sam Mangel, a consultant who has advised figures like Steve Bannon, SBF, and George Santos on navigating the criminal justice system, stated:

“Everybody that is in prison now is keenly aware of the environment, and it’s become a very hot topic within the low- and minimum-security inmate communities.”

Crypto Fraudsters Pin Their Hopes on Trump

The crypto community is watching Trump’s pardon decisions closely, especially after his early clemency for Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road creator.

That move signalled that crypto-related cases are on his radar, fueling hopes among other figures seeking similar relief.

One of them is Bitcoin miner Joby Weeks, who pleaded guilty in 2020 to tax evasion and running an unregistered securities offering.

While awaiting sentencing—amidst an ongoing federal conspiracy case—Weeks has taken an unconventional approach.

He recently fired his high-profile attorney, David Boies, and is now representing himself, filing a motion to dismiss that directly cites Trump’s rhetoric.

Sent to Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, his motion began with:

“President Trump said to ‘FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!’ And so, I am.”

Speaking from house arrest in Denver, Weeks expressed hope for presidential intervention:

“It would be great to have Trump step in and say, ‘Enough is enough.’”

Roger Ver, known as "Bitcoin Jesus," is also seeking a pardon.

The former US citizen, now a Caribbean national, was indicted in April 2024 for evading $50 million in taxes and was arrested in Spain, where he is fighting extradition.

Like others in his position, Ver has opted for a media-driven strategy rather than a legal one.

In December, he sat down with Tucker Carlson, saying:

“To be honest, I think they’re not really angry about taxes at all. I think they’re just angry about my lack of obedience and lack of kissing their ring.”

His supporters launched a high-profile #FreeRogerVer campaign—complete with a petition, a meme coin, and endorsements from Trump allies like Alex Jones and Roger Stone.

Just four days after Ulbricht’s pardon, Ver made a direct appeal to Trump on X (formerly known as Twitter), with Ulbricht himself joining the call for his release:

“If there’s anybody that knows what it’s like to be the victim of lawfare for spreading American ideals, it’s Donald Trump.”

SBF, and Other Convicted Politicians Queue Up for Clemency

SBF, the disgraced former FTX CEO, has become a key figure in pardon discussions.

Sentenced to 25 years for fraud, he remains active behind bars, leveraging his legal team and family to explore clemency options.

His mother, Barbara Fried, and former attorney, Marc Mukasey, have been quietly advocating on his behalf, while SBF himself has taken a more public approach.

In a recent New York Sun interview, he criticised Judge Lewis Kaplan—the same judge who ruled against Trump in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case—positioning himself as a potential beneficiary of Trump’s disdain for the judiciary.

SBF noted:

“I know President Trump had a lot of frustrations with Judge Kaplan. I certainly did as well.”

He also made an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show, warning that without intervention, he could die in prison before turning 40.

On the political side, former senator Bob Menendez is also seeking a pardon.

Convicted of bribery and corruption and sentenced to 11 years, Menendez made his stance clear outside the Manhattan courthouse, proclaiming that "Trump is right" before tagging @RealDonaldTrump on X:

“President Trump is right. This process is political and it’s corrupted to the core.”

However, Menendez’s history complicates his appeal—he was an outspoken Bitcoin critic who frequently clashed with El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, over the country’s Bitcoin adoption.

After Menendez’s arrest, Bukele mocked him on X, suggesting he should have taken bribes in Bitcoin instead of cash and gold.

Meanwhile, at the local level, former D.C. council member Trayon White is battling federal bribery charges, claiming he was set up by the FBI.

White posted on Instagram:

“I’m glad to hear the potential director say he will be fair and just. This is what America wants.”

White even appeared at a Senate hearing for Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee to lead the agency.

His supporters have gone so far as to rent a truck to park outside D.C. Council headquarters, displaying a massive image of White and a message calling for his exoneration:

“FBI set me up.”

Biden-Related Information Offered in Exchange for Pardon

Ekim Alptekin, a Turkish businessman facing indictment, is taking a bold and unconventional route in his pursuit of clemency—offering potentially explosive information in exchange for a reduced sentence.

In a recent audio broadcast on X, Alptekin alleged that in 2019, Jim Biden and Sara Biden—Joe Biden’s brother and sister-in-law—visited him in Turkey.

According to Alptekin, they proposed that he hire former US Attorney General Eric Holder for $3 million to help with his legal issues.

However, Alptekin claims their true motive was to pressure him into implicating Michael Flynn, Trump’s former National Security Adviser, in misconduct.

Alptekin has expressed his willingness to provide investigators with documentation supporting his allegations, but he insists that his criminal case must be resolved before he cooperates further:

“I would prefer the case to be dismissed. I’ll settle for a pardon for the sake of my family.”

Not All Indicted Criminals Clamouring for Clemency

One notable absence from the wave of pardon requests is George Santos.

The former congressman, facing charges of fraud and identity theft, is awaiting sentencing in April.

While others actively lobby for clemency, Santos has remained relatively quiet on the issue.

In a recent interview, he acknowledged he would welcome a pardon but emphasized he has not actively sought one.

This stands in contrast to the surge of pardon requests triggered by Trump’s return to power, with experts like Mangel noting that demand for clemency is at an all-time high.

Mangel, who has seen a dramatic increase in inquiries, reports that his office now receives two to four requests per day, a significant rise from just a handful in the years before Trump’s election.

However, Mangel notes that certain categories of individuals, such as undocumented immigrants or those convicted of sexual, drug-related, or violent crimes, are unlikely to be considered for clemency.

Mangel expressed:

“Before Trump, I got two inquiries per year. Now I’m getting two to four per day. The level of interest is unheard of.”

With Trump’s recent appointment of Alice Johnson as White House pardon czar, the list of potential candidates for mercy continues to grow.

Whether Trump will grant clemency to all remains uncertain, but the number of requests is steadily rising.