Raw America
Exclusive: Former Biden DOJ Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer on Trump’s Corrupt Pardons
Why It Matters
The episode reveals how unchecked presidential pardon power can undermine the rule of law and reward political loyalty over justice, affecting victims and taxpayers nationwide. Understanding these abuses is crucial for voters and policymakers as they consider reforms—such as independent review panels or stronger congressional oversight—to prevent future corruption and ensure deserving individuals retain access to clemency.
Key Takeaways
- •Trump promises preemptive pardons to staff, unprecedented.
- •Trump pardons outpace Biden eightfold, often political.
- •No DOJ vetting creates pay‑for‑play pardon system.
- •$1.5 billion financial penalties erased by Trump pardons.
- •Congress should impose oversight and reform pardon authority.
Pulse Analysis
In this Raw America interview, former DOJ pardon attorney Liz Oyer explains how the presidential pardon power has shifted from a merit‑based, justice‑oriented tool under President Biden to an unprecedented, preemptive promise under Donald Trump. Oyer notes that Trump openly offered pardons to anyone within 200 feet of the Oval Office, a practice never seen before, and contrasts it with Biden’s limited, case‑by‑case clemency. The discussion highlights why this change matters: it undermines the non‑political nature of the Office of the Pardon Attorney and threatens the integrity of the criminal‑justice system.
Oyer cites stark statistics from the Cato Institute: Trump has issued roughly 166 pardons—eight times Biden’s count—excluding more than 1,500 January 6 pardons. Without the traditional DOJ vetting, pardons have become a pay‑for‑play mechanism, rewarding donors, allies, and wealthy connections. She quantifies the damage, noting that Trump’s clemency erased about $1.5 billion in financial penalties, leaving victims of white‑collar fraud and taxpayers uncompensated. Real‑world examples, from a former Honduran president to state officials, illustrate how political loyalty now outweighs genuine rehabilitation.
Looking forward, Oyer calls for congressional oversight and structural reform. She proposes an independent panel of legal experts to evaluate clemency applications, mandatory transparency on donor influence, and hearings to scrutinize each pardon’s merit. By restoring a merit‑based process, the pardon power could once again serve justice—offering second chances to deserving individuals while preventing corruption. Such reforms would safeguard the constitutional balance and ensure future presidents cannot weaponize clemency for personal or political gain.
Episode Description
Some of Trump's most egregious pardons, how they re-victimize crime victims, endanger national security, and make a mockery of what should be a non-partisan clemency process
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