Pardons for Sale: Decoding Trump's Clemency Template
Criminals are using a proven formula to secure Trump pardons—and what Democrats/Trump administration dissenters must do to stop normalizing corruption
The Honduran drug lord’s letter reveals the formula for Trump pardons—and why office holders, candidates and advocacy groups need to get ahead of the next pardons and illegal actions. I suggest creating our own template and homework assisgment. Why can’t we act now to expose what’s coming next.
Steven Beschloss’s writing on the Presidents Rich and Powerful in today’s Substack motivated me to write this. Again, his commentators’ contributions are helpful reading.
The Honduran drug lord’s pardon letter creates a dangerous template for anyone seeking Trump’s clemency or blessing: flatter his persecution complex, invoke “radical leftist forces,” claim conservative values. Add campaign contributions, ballroom donations, and investments in Trump family ventures—Bitcoin, drones, whatever’s profitable this week—and you’ve got the formula.
This playbook will work unless a coordinated, unified response emerges. Elected Democrats and advocacy groups cannot let these pardons, illegal practices and anti-democratic arguments go unanswered. They surface daily from Trump, MAGA allies, and supporting organizations.
Can opponents to current administration, including elected and candidates, work together to create rapid-response teams monitoring this rhetoric, documenting patterns, and immediately countering the “political persecution” narrative before it normalizes pardoning actual criminals. Proactive monitoring, not reactive outrage.Not every pardon fits the template neatly. Today’s Des Moines Register described a pardon for unlawful bidding on Iowa Event Center contracts—I do not know of campaign contributions; I hope journalists undertake minimal investigation into the criminal’s Trump connections. The standards are collapsing.
Homework for readers: Identify potential pardon recipients or other immoral behavior and illegal efforts before Trump next acts. Research associates of already-pardoned criminals like Hernández. Flag Epstein-connected figures, starting with Maxwell. Document patterns and educate the public proactively on how far these pardons might reach. Anticipate the corruption rather than just reacting to it. Make them defend the indefensible before it happens. Normalization of pardons and blowing up boats and ICE troops at day care centers is happening, unless there is proactive action.
Keep an eye out for Missouri rancher Steve McBee Sr. He is the "cowboy" of fame from the McBee Dynasty TV show on Peacock. He just reported in at Yankton SD to begin his federal sentence of 24 months for crop insurance fraud to the tune of over $4 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to the time, he has to pay back the $4 million.
The 24 months in a Club Fed should be no sweat for a real rugged cowboy but that $4 million has to hurt. He is already preparing a bid for a presidential pardon from Trump and he will probably get it. Birds of a feather and all. He will be able to keep his ill gotten gains in the end.
Justice for sale, isn’t justice at all. They’ve pulled off her blindfold and installed a cash register in her hand. Ladies Justice and Liberty have been abducted by grifters, being held hostage to tribute for building golden calves and ballrooms for a demented band of criminals. We’re witnessing the demise of decency and democracy, while oligarchs hold Gatsby parties rivaling bacchanalian feasts of Caesars.