Hidden camera records a $300,000 pardon-access pitch
Reporting and findings
- reported
CBS News recorded Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl quoting Ammon Covino $300,000 and describing a campaign of events, influencers, members of Congress and White House contacts intended to put sustained pressure on Trump. Covino was working with CBS; he did not hire or pay them, and no pardon resulted from the recorded pitch.
- CBS News / 60 Minutes: Paid brokers tout ties to Trump's orbit to lobby for presidential pardonsTranscript lines describing the $300,000 quote, proposed expenses and pressure strategy
- CBS News: Pardon brokers offer to put pressure on the president, at sky-high costsHidden-camera setup and brokers' response
Summary and current status
Pitch recorded; Covino was acting with CBS and did not retain the brokers
People and organizations
- Ammon CovinoPardon seeker working with CBS
- Donald J. TrumpPresident the brokers proposed pressuring
- Jack BurkmanRecorded broker
- Jacob WohlRecorded broker
Relationships in this file
- Jack BurkmanJointly made the recorded clemency pitchJacob Wohl
- Ammon CovinoApproached the broker while working with CBS NewsJack Burkman
- Donald J. TrumpProposed using political contacts and events to press a clemency requestJack Burkman
Money trail
feeBurkman-Wohl fee quoted to Covino$300,000 - Reported fee payer / source
- Ammon Covino (prospective payer; no payment)
- Reported fee recipient
- Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl (quoted brokers)