Partial unsealing order in matter 20-gj-35

Reporting cited here

1. alleged

   A partially unsealed federal-court order described a Justice Department investigation into an alleged secret lobbying scheme and a related bribery conspiracy in which a substantial political contribution would be offered in exchange for a presidential pardon or reprieve. The public order redacted the people involved and did not identify Trump or any government official as a subject or target.

   Order pages 2–5 and 17–18: alleged schemes, crime-fraud review and redacted identities

   Federal court unseals records of a 2020 bribery-for-pardon investigation · Investigation described in a partially unsealed order; subjects were redacted

2. 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.

   2020 partial unsealing order and its redacted bribery-for-pardon allegations

   Clemency advocacy — fees, access pitches and DOJ routing · Congressional oversight announced; payment disputes and legal questions remain unresolved