Other presidents have let white-collar criminals dodge financial penalties – but not like Trump

No other U.S. president has come close to wiping away the amount in fines and restitution owed to victims that Trump has.

By: Caren Morrison, Georgia State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 22, 2026

Words: 1,455

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 5 days ago

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By Caren Morrison, Georgia State University

President Donald Trump loves a good pardon. His generosity is so well known, in fact, that an industry of lobbyists, lawyers and other insiders has reportedly sprung up to facilitate clemency for wealthy criminals. Clemency, meaning mercy or leniency, lets the president reduce the punishment for, or even forgive, federal crimes.

For defendants hoping to avoid jail and walk away from millions of dollars in financial …

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