Overview

• On May 28, President Trump granted full pardons to former Rep. Michael Grimm for a 2014 tax fraud conviction and to ex-Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland for election fraud and obstruction of justice charges.
• He commuted the life sentence of Larry Hoover, co-founder of the Gangster Disciples street gang, who has been serving multiple life terms since a 1973 murder conviction.
• The president’s latest clemency actions follow a spree that included pardons for reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, rapper NBA YoungBoy, and other individuals convicted of tax evasion, gun crimes and fraudulent schemes.
• Trump sidestepped the traditional Justice Department vetting process, relying on direct White House counsel and a newly appointed pardon attorney to fast-track these approvals.
• Legal experts and critics warn that favoring political allies and high-profile convicts undermines checks and balances and weakens long-standing legal procedures.