A new report from Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., reveals that 85% of individuals granted federal pardons or clemency this year by President Donald Trump are white, and 90% of those recipients were defendants from the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. The report notes that 5% of clemency recipients are Latino and 8% are Black, highlighting a significant disparity compared with the broader federal prison population, which is roughly 25% white, 36% Hispanic, and 34% Black.
Titled “Trump’s Clemency Gap,” the 19-page report examines all publicly reported federal clemency actions taken from Jan. 20 through Dec. 5, drawing on White House announcements, Justice Department records, U.S. Sentencing Commission data, and academic research. It finds that Trump’s clemency largely favored Jan. 6 defendants, who account for the vast majority of the more than 1,700 people granted pardons or commutations this year. The report emphasizes that only nine clemency actions benefited people convicted of drug offenses, despite more than 60,000 individuals serving sentences for such crimes.
The report also highlights Trump’s high-profile pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted in the U.S. of cocaine importation and sentenced to 45 years in prison. According to Pressley’s report, Trump’s clemency actions have allowed roughly $1.4 billion in restitution and fines to go uncollected. Pressley’s office criticized the use of clemency to benefit politically connected individuals, noting the need for pardons and commutations to address systemic injustices rather than favor allies or wealthy figures.
Pressley has urged the administration to prioritize clemency for those disproportionately harmed by systemic inequities, citing the transformative power of pardons and commutations. The report underscores the contrast between Trump’s approach and prior clemency efforts, including those by President Biden, who set records for pardons and commutations, particularly for nonviolent drug offenders. Pressley emphasized that clemency should focus on fairness and restorative justice, rather than political loyalty or personal connections.