In a significant move, former US President Donald Trump has extended clemency to twenty-one individuals. This latest batch of pardons includes several high-profile names and marks another chapter in his use of executive power.
Immediate Releases and Key Beneficiaries
White House Pardon Czar Alice Marie Johnson announced the news through social media. She confirmed that Trump granted clemency to twenty-one people on Thursday. Nine of them walked free immediately.
"What a blessed morning!!!" Johnson wrote in her tweet. "Last night, @POTUS extended mercy to 21 deserving individuals — with 9 people immediately released, including grandmother Angela Reynolds, Angela Cupit, Andre Routt, and Zechariah Benjamin."
Notable Cases in the Pardon List
The list features some particularly interesting cases. Adriana Camberos, previously convicted for selling counterfeit 5-Hour Energy bottles in 2017, received a sentence commutation from Trump in 2021. Now, she gets a full pardon for a separate 2024 fraud conviction.
According to AP reports, her 2024 case involved lying to manufacturers. She promised that wholesale groceries and other items were destined for sale in Mexico or for prisoners and rehabilitation facilities. Instead, she sold them at big discounts. Her brother, Andres, convicted in the same 2024 fraud, also received a pardon on Thursday.
Business Executive and Former Governor
Terren Peizer, a resident of both Puerto Rico and California, also benefited from Trump's clemency. Peizer headed the Miami-based healthcare company Ontrak. The Justice Department convicted him for insider trading. He engaged in a scheme to avoid losses exceeding $12.5 million. His sentence was forty-two months in prison plus a $5.25 million fine.
Wanda Vázquez, the former Governor of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty to a campaign finance violation last August. Federal prosecutors sought one year in prison for her. She admitted to accepting a promise of a campaign contribution that never materialized. In exchange, authorities dropped bribery and fraud charges. Her sentencing was scheduled for later this month before the pardon came through.
Political Connections and High-Profile Names
Julio Herrera Velutini, a banker, received a pardon as well. He is the father of Isabela Herrera, who donated $2.5 million to Trump's MAGA Inc super PAC in 2024. She gave an additional $1 million last summer. Julio was involved in the same campaign finance case as Wanda Vázquez. The third defendant, former FBI agent Mark Rossini, also got a presidential pardon.
Michael Grimm, a former US Republican Congressman from New York, features on the list too. He resigned from Congress after a tax fraud conviction. Grimm once made headlines for threatening to throw a reporter off a Capitol balcony over an unwelcome question.
Reality TV Stars and a Texas Democrat
Reality television stars Todd and Julie Chrisley received clemency from Trump. They were convicted of cheating banks and evading taxes.
Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democratic Congressman, was convicted in a bribery and conspiracy case. The US president pardoned him as well. Cuellar had later expressed regret and frustration over his actions.
This sweeping act of clemency continues Trump's pattern of using presidential pardon powers extensively. It highlights connections between political donations, high-profile individuals, and the justice system.
