In recent months, the headlines have been filled with news of presidential clemency, as a wave of pardons and commutations has been issued to a diverse group of individuals. From former politicians and high-profile figures to those involved in past legal battles, these acts of mercy from the White House have sparked widespread discussion and debate. Among the notable recipients are controversial former U.S. Representative George Santos, legendary baseball star Darryl Strawberry, and even a broad group of individuals connected to the January 6th Capitol events. Understanding these actions requires a closer look at the mechanisms of presidential clemency and who has recently benefited.
Understanding Pardons vs. Commutations
While often used interchangeably in casual conversation, a pardon and a commutation are distinct legal actions with different implications.
A pardon is an act of official forgiveness, fully absolving an individual of a federal crime. When a pardon is granted, it can restore all civil rights, such as the right to vote, hold office, or own firearms, that may have been lost due to the conviction. It signifies that the individual is forgiven for their crime.
A commutation, on the other hand, is a reduction of a criminal sentence. It shortens or ends a prison term, or reduces fines, but it does not erase the conviction itself. The individual remains a convicted felon, though their time in prison or other penalties are reduced or eliminated. This distinction is crucial for understanding the full impact of the President’s actions. I generally speaking tell people that a commutation is what a person does when they are trying to get out of jail or prison.
Who Has Received Clemency Recently?
Here is a summary of some of the most prominent recent acts of clemency:
Recent Federal Pardons and Commutations
George Santos: Commutation
The action taken for George Santos was a commutation, not a full pardon.
- Date: October 2025.
- Action: President Trump commuted Santos’s sentence, which released him from prison immediately.
- Original Conviction: Santos, the disgraced former U.S. Representative, was serving an 87-month (more than seven-year) prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He had served only about three months of his sentence when the commutation was issued.
- Impact: A commutation shortens a prison sentence but does not erase the conviction or imply innocence, unlike a pardon. Importantly, the commutation order appeared to clear his obligation to pay $373,749.97 in restitution to his victims, which included campaign donors and others he had defrauded.
- Context: The President stated that Santos had been “horribly mistreated” and his commutation was viewed by many as a reward for a political ally, even though Santos had been expelled from Congress.
Darryl Strawberry: Full Pardon
Darryl Strawberry received a full pardon.
- Date: November 2025.
- Action: President Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon.
- Original Conviction: Strawberry, the former New York Mets and Yankees slugger, pleaded guilty in 1995 to a federal charge of tax evasion. He failed to report over $350,000 in income from personal appearances and autograph shows, for which he was sentenced to home confinement and ordered to pay back taxes.
- Impact: A full pardon officially expunges the federal conviction. This is a complete legal forgiveness for the crime.
- Context: The White House cited Strawberry’s work as a minister and his more than a decade of sobriety as reasons for the clemency. Strawberry and President Trump had a personal relationship, as Strawberry was a contestant on the third season of Trump’s reality show, The Celebrity Apprentice, in 2010.
Other Presidential Actions
- Symbolic Pardons for State Charges (November/December 2025): President Trump has issued several symbolic pardons for individuals facing state-level charges related to the 2020 election, though his presidential clemency power only applies to federal crimes. Recipients include:
- Tina Peters, former Colorado elections clerk.
- Rudy Giuliani, former personal lawyer to Trump.
- Mark Meadows, former White House Chief of Staff.
- Ross Ulbricht: Pardoned in January 2025. Ulbricht, known as “Dread Pirate Roberts,” founded the illegal online black market “Silk Road” and was serving a life sentence.
- January 6 Capitol Attack Defendants (January 2025): President Trump issued a broad proclamation on his first day in office granting pardons or commutations to approximately 1,500 individuals charged, convicted, or sentenced for their actions on January 6, 2021.
If anything here applies to you, contact us today.
At Guest & Gray, attorney Jeremy Gordon provides aggressive, skilled defense for clients facing federal criminal charges. With extensive experience in federal cases, we know what it takes to build a strong, effective defense. For prompt, professional representation, contact us today to schedule a free phone consultation.
