In recent months, White House Chief-of-Staff (COS) Susie Wiles (R) has assumed Greater Authority over the Presidential Clemency Process, tightening Internal Controls and Reasserting Oversight after Reports that Political Insiders and Lobbyists were attempting to Profit from Access to Trump’s (R) Pardon Power.
Early in Trump’s Second Term, Pardons flowed Steadily, including Blanket Clemency for Roughly 1,500 People Charged in the January 6th, 2021, Capitol Riot and Dozens of other Actions in the following months. By May, more than 70 additional Pardons or Commutations had been issued. But soon after, the Process abruptly Paused as Senior Aides raised Alarms about Outsiders seeking to Monetize Influence with the White House.
According to Several Administration Officials, Wiles Pushed for a Halt, while She and White House Counsel David Warrington Restructured the System to Block Inappropriate Lobbying. Her Goal, they said, was to ensure All Clemency Petitions were Vetted through Official Channels, Free from the Perception of Pay-to-Play access. The Move followed Reports that Consultants were Advertising their Ability to arrange Pardons for Fees reaching into the millions, including One proposal to Secure a Pardon for Cryptocurrency Investor Roger Ver in Exchange for $30 million, an Arrangement the White House Denied knowing about.
Wiles, who has emerged as One of the most Powerful Figures in Trump’s Inner Circle, reportedly insisted that Only She and Warrington would Brief the President on Clemency Matters. Requests now Flow through the Counsel’s Office and are Reviewed by Wiles before She and Warrington present Recommendations to Trump. Alice Johnson, the Criminal Justice Advocate whose Own Sentence Trump Commuted during His First Term, serves as a Senior Adviser on Cases, particularly those involving Drug Convictions.
ThePpause in Pardons coincided with a String of Cybersecurity Breaches, including One that directly Targeted Wiles. In May 2025, News Reports said an Impersonator posing as Her Contacted Republican Lawmakers using AI-Generated Voice Messages and Texted Requests for Money and Pardon Lists. The FBI launched an Investigation, describing it as part of a Broader “malicious text and voice messaging campaign” Impersonating Senior U.S. Officials. Wiles later told Colleagues that Her Personal Phone had been Hacked, prompting the White House to Strengthen Digital Safeguards.
After the Internal Review, Clemency Actions resumed this month. Trump recently Commuted the Sentence of former Congressman George Santos (R), who had Served only a few months of a Seven-year Prison Term for Wire Fraud and Identity Theft, and pardoned Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, who pleaded Guilty to Money-Laundering Violations. Both Decisions drew Controversy, though White House Officials emphasized that each Case was “intensely vetted.”
People familiar with the Process say Wiles, now Manages the Timing and Presentation of Future Pardons, with Trump expected to Approve more in the coming weeks. Among those under Review is Musician Pras Michel, Convicted in a Foreign Lobbying Case.
Administration Aides describe Wiles’s recent Actions as a Deliberate effort to bring Order and Legitimacy to a Process long Criticized for Opacity and Favoritism. Her Expanded role marks a Shift toward Tighter Internal Control, and a more Cautious, Centralized approach to One of the President’s Broadest Powers.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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