Clemency advocacy — fees, access pitches and DOJ routing

Reporting and findings

1. documented

   Paid advocacy directed at Trump's clemency process is documented across both administrations. First-term records include a $750,000 engagement that did not produce a pardon and retainers or contingent fees charged by Trump-connected advocates. In the second term, a lobbying filing recorded $960,000 from Joseph Schwartz before Trump pardoned him; CBS recorded a separate $300,000 pitch, documented a disputed $600,000 payment for an unsuccessful effort, and found that about 70 percent of second-term clemency actions were not routed through the Justice Department channel, or 92 percent including January 6 cases. A 2020 federal order described a separate alleged bribery-for-pardon investigation, and lawmakers have announced further oversight plans. These records document recurring paid clemency advocacy and disclosed six-figure fees. They do not establish that Trump received the brokers' fees or prove a criminal quid pro quo by Trump.

   • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia: Partial unsealing order in matter 20-gj-352020 partial unsealing order and its redacted bribery-for-pardon allegations
   • The New York Times: Prospect of Pardons in Final Days Fuels Market to Buy Access to TrumpFirst-term fees, access market, outcomes and legal boundary
   • CBS News: Top Democrats pledge investigation into Trump pardon brokers if party regains control of CongressSeptember 14 congressional statements and current subpoena limitation
   • U.S. Lobbying Disclosure Act database: Cove Strategies fourth-quarter 2020 report for Parker H. PetitCove Strategies income, pardon issue and contacted office
   • U.S. Lobbying Disclosure Act database: J M Burkman & Associates second-quarter 2025 report for Joseph SchwartzJ M Burkman & Associates income and Schwartz pardon issue
   • CBS News / 60 Minutes: Paid brokers tout ties to Trump's orbit to lobby for presidential pardonsRecorded $300,000 pitch, $600,000 reported payment, DOJ routing analysis and official responses