Pablo Torre Finds Out Mercy for Sale: Inside Trump's Pardon Machine, with TrueAnon's Brace Belden
Jan 13, 2026
Brace Belden, a commentator and podcaster from TrueAnon, joins former U.S. pardon attorney Liz Oyer to unveil the intricate web of presidential pardons. They dive into fascinating stories about beneficiaries like Daryl Strawberry and NBA YoungBoy, revealing how personal connections fuel access to clemency. Liz shares her ethical dilemmas, including resisting a high-profile request from Mel Gibson. They also dissect the lobbying tactics used to influence pardon decisions, raising questions about fairness and transparency in the system.
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Pardons As A Commodified Afterlife
- The episode reframes presidential pardons as an American afterlife for federal offenders.
- Pablo Torre argues Trump's second term has commodified clemency into a market of access and favors.
Darryl Strawberry's Social-Network Pardon
- Daryl Strawberry publicly thanked Larry Glick and Trump after a full pardon for 1990s convictions.
- Pablo Torre traces the pardon to a Trump Organization contact rather than a standard petition process.
Career Vetting Replaced By Political Favor
- Liz Oyer describes how career pardon office norms were bypassed for political favors.
- She says career legitimacy was sought then discarded when officials pushed to return Mel Gibson's gun rights.