In 2025, President Donald Trump granted pardons to numerous individuals he views as victims of an unjust legal system. Some of these pardons were tied to his interest in cryptocurrencies or reflected his frustrations with the 2020 election, while others stemmed from casual conversations—like those during a game of golf.
Both Republican and Democratic presidents have historically used their pardon powers in contentious ways, but Trump’s actions stood out for both their number and his typical style of consensus-building. Below is a look at some of the most controversial pardons issued by President Trump in 2025.
Defendants from January 6
On his first day in office, Trump pardoned many of his supporters who had been convicted of federal crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He expressed that he felt he had been treated “very unfairly” by the justice system.
Roughly 1,600 individuals were charged in connection with the Capitol attack, and federal records show more than 1,200 of them have reached guilty pleas or convictions. Over 200 people pleaded guilty to serious offenses, including assaulting law enforcement officers.
Trump specifically commuted the sentences of 14 defendants—many of whom faced lengthy prison terms—rather than offering them full pardons. This group included several leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.
Furthermore, Trump instructed the Justice Department to dismiss pending cases against all other defendants, effectively ending one of the most extensive and costly law enforcement operations in its history. Legal disputes continued during Biden’s administration.
Zhao Changpeng
The founder of Binance, Zhao Changpeng, received a full pardon in October after being convicted of anti-money laundering violations. This pardon followed a notable introduction to Trump by Donald Trump Jr. during a memorial service.
While detractors pointed out that Binance had financial ties to the Trump family’s cryptocurrency ventures, a lawyer insisted the pardon was granted “in the interest of justice.”
George Santos
The former congressman George Santos, known for fabricating many aspects of his background, had his seven-year prison sentence commuted. Santos had pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft charges, misusing campaign funds for personal expenses.
His case ignited outrage among Long Island Republicans, who felt his sentencing cuts were unjust to those he defrauded. Trump claimed Santos had suffered mistreatment while incarcerated.
Tim Leiweke
Sports executive Tim Leiweke was indicted for allegedly rigging bids for an arena construction at the University of Texas. Encouraged by former Congressman Trey Gowdy after a golf outing, Trump ultimately chose to pardon him.
Juan Orlando Hernandez
Trump’s pardon of former Honduran President Hernandez, who faced severe drug trafficking charges, was heavily criticized. Hernandez was sentenced to 45 years but was released shortly before Honduran elections, leading to a warrant for his arrest back home. Trump defended his decision by claiming Hernandez was mischaracterized by the Biden administration.
The Chrisley Family
Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley were pardoned after their convictions for bank fraud and tax evasion. Trump cited their harsh treatment as justification. Savannah Chrisley, one of their daughters, was also in the political spotlight, supporting Trump at a major convention.
Devon Archer
Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, received a full pardon after conviction for federal fraud in 2025. This move aligned Archer more closely with Republicans amid investigations into Biden’s business dealings.
Henry Cuellar and His Wife
Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife were pardoned after facing bribery charges. Trump asserted they were targeted due to Cuellar’s moderate stance on border security. Ironically, Cuellar’s decision to run for re-election as a Democrat displeased Trump, who expressed frustration over perceived disloyalty.
Tina Peters
In December, Trump announced a pardon for Tina Peters, a former election official convicted for a scheme related to the 2020 election. While he claimed the pardon supported her investigations into alleged voter fraud, legal experts have noted that there may be limitations to his authority in such state matters.
