CNN 5 Things One Thing: Unpacking Trump’s Second Term Pardon Spree
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Nov 16, 2025 Kim Wehle, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and law professor, dives into the unusual nature of Donald Trump’s over 1,600 pardons, highlighting their political and transactional aspects. She contrasts traditional pardon practices focused on mercy with Trump’s self-serving approach. The conversation touches on pardons for January 6 participants and political allies, as well as the implications of Supreme Court decisions on the pardon power. Wehle also critiques the ethical concerns surrounding the oversight of pardons and the disparity in clemency for ordinary applicants.
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Pardon Office Is Advisory Not Binding
- The pardon office provides recommendations but cannot bind the president, making its role advisory not compulsory.
- Kim Wehle warns that presidents have historically bypassed the process even though criteria exist for review.
Pardons' Original Purpose Vs. Current Use
- Historically the pardon power aimed at mercy and healing after crises, not personal enrichment.
- Kim Wehle says Trump appears to use pardons to aggrandize and benefit himself rather than to show mercy.
High-Profile Pardons Tied To Trump
- Trump began pardoning figures tied to investigations of his administration like Manafort and Stone during his first term.
- In his second term he issued pardons to many connected to him, including those tied to January 6 and campaign donors.
