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Jailed Crypto King Sam Bankman-Fried Begs Trump For Pardon

By
Madeleine Jackson
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0
By The White House - https://www.flickr.com/photos/202101414@N05/54581054338/, Public Domain,

Disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried has officially thrown himself on President Trump’s mercy, filing a formal application for a presidential pardon while serving a 25-year prison sentence for one of the largest financial frauds in modern American history.

According to records maintained by the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, the fallen FTX founder recently submitted a request for a “pardon after completion of sentence,” with the application now listed as pending review.

The move marks the latest twist in the spectacular downfall of the former cryptocurrency billionaire, who went from being Washington’s favorite crypto wunderkind to a convicted fraudster accused of stealing billions from customers.

A federal jury found Bankman-Fried guilty on multiple fraud and conspiracy charges after prosecutors proved he illegally diverted customer funds from FTX to prop up his hedge fund Alameda Research, finance lavish spending, make venture investments, and shower politicians with campaign donations. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024.

From Democrat Megadonor to Trump Pardon Seeker

Bankman-Fried’s pardon request carries an extra layer of political irony.

Before FTX imploded, he was one of the Democrat Party’s biggest donors, pouring millions into Democratic candidates and causes during the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.

But since landing behind bars, the former crypto executive has increasingly sought to align himself with Trump and the MAGA movement, publicly criticizing the Biden Justice Department and portraying himself as a victim of political persecution. Reports indicate Bankman-Fried and his family have spent months exploring avenues to secure presidential clemency.

The effort appears to be facing long odds.

In January, Trump told The New York Times he had no plans to pardon Bankman-Fried, a position that has since been reiterated by White House officials.

Trump’s Expanding Crypto Pardon Record

Still, Bankman-Fried may be encouraged by Trump’s increasingly aggressive use of presidential clemency during his second term.

Trump has already issued a series of controversial pardons involving high-profile figures from the cryptocurrency world. Most notably, he pardoned Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to anti-money laundering violations and served a four-month prison sentence.

Trump has also extended clemency to BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes and other crypto-linked figures, fueling speculation that additional industry players could seek similar treatment.

Critics argue the pattern reinforces the perception that wealthy and well-connected defendants have greater access to presidential mercy than ordinary Americans. Recent reporting has highlighted a growing ecosystem of lobbyists, attorneys, and political operatives attempting to secure pardons through connections to Trump’s orbit.

Progressives Blast Pardon Push

Bankman-Fried’s latest maneuver quickly drew condemnation from financial reform advocates.

Americans for Financial Reform, a progressive nonprofit watchdog, blasted the request as “one more striking indication of the level of impunity that crypto industry figures expect from the President.”

“This particular wish may or may not be granted, but the request — despite Bankman-Fried’s conviction on multiple counts of fraud — should come as little surprise,” the group said Monday.

Appeal Still Pending

The pardon application comes as Bankman-Fried continues to fight his conviction in court.

His appeal remains pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and he has also sought a new trial, arguing prosecutors falsely portrayed FTX’s finances and that additional witnesses could challenge the government’s case.

For now, however, the once-celebrated crypto king remains locked behind bars — waiting to see whether the president who says he won’t pardon him ultimately changes his mind.

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Former Border Patrol Chief Exploring 2028 White House Run

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1

Former U.S. Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino has launched an exploratory committee as he considers a potential run for president in 2028, according to a report from NewsNation.

Bovino, who retired from the Border Patrol in March after nearly three decades of service, confirmed to NewsNation that his effort is currently exploratory but said he could move forward with a formal campaign if conditions align.

The exploratory committee has launched the website Bovino2028.com as part of the effort.

During President Donald Trump’s administration, Bovino emerged as one of the most visible federal officials involved in immigration enforcement operations. While in charge, he coordinated large-scale enforcement actions in major cities and became a prominent advocate for stronger border security measures and interior immigration enforcement.

Throughout his career, Bovino held leadership roles along the southern border and was widely recognized within Customs and Border Protection for his operational experience. Supporters credit him with helping oversee some of the most aggressive immigration enforcement initiatives in recent years, while also serving as a key public spokesman for border security efforts.

According to The Daily Beast, Bovino stated that if elected president, he would take a hands-on approach to immigration enforcement and deportation operations.

Since leaving government service, Bovino has remained active on social media, where he continues to advocate for expanded immigration enforcement and mass deportation policies. He has also been critical of what he views as a less aggressive approach by some current administration officials.

Bovino has publicly criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, White House border czar Tom Homan, and other administration figures over immigration policy and enforcement decisions. He argues that the federal government should pursue stronger action to address illegal immigration and improve border security.

His criticisms have drawn attention because they come from a former senior Border Patrol official who played a prominent role in implementing immigration enforcement operations during Trump’s second administration.

While Bovino has not formally entered the presidential race, the launch of an exploratory committee marks the first significant step toward a potential White House campaign. His prospective candidacy would likely center on border security, immigration enforcement, public safety, and law-and-order policies—issues that have defined much of his career in federal law enforcement.

No official campaign announcement has been made, and Bovino has not provided a timeline for a final decision on whether he will seek the Republican nomination in 2028.

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Trump Admin Moves To Revoke Citizenship Of 17 Criminals

By
Madeleine Jackson
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4
President Donald J. Trump hosts a Rose Garden Club dinner in honor of Police Week in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

The Trump administration is launching a new crackdown on naturalized citizens accused of gaming America’s immigration system, moving to strip citizenship from 17 foreign-born criminals ranging from child sex offenders to multimillion-dollar fraudsters.

The Justice Department is expected to announce Monday that it has filed denaturalization actions against a group of naturalized citizens who allegedly lied, concealed serious crimes, or committed fraud while obtaining U.S. citizenship.

“U.S. citizenship is a privilege, not a right for people who obtained it through deception,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said as the administration unveiled its latest effort to purge what officials describe as bad actors who abused the naturalization process.

Among the most shocking cases is Haitian-born Jean Claude Alfred, 68, who federal officials say was sexually abusing his minor daughter while applying to become an American citizen.

According to the Justice Department, Alfred denied committing any crimes during his citizenship application process despite allegedly abusing his daughter during that same period. He was later convicted by a Florida jury on charges including attempted sexual battery of a child in a familial relationship and lewd assault on a minor.

The Daily Wire reported that another target is Colombian-born Fernando Cristancho, a Roman Catholic priest sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually grooming and abusing a young parishioner between the ages of 11 and 13. Federal officials allege Cristancho concealed his criminal conduct from immigration authorities while seeking naturalization.

The administration is also seeking to denaturalize Delmas Garcia, a Cuban-born woman convicted in a massive healthcare fraud scheme that prosecutors say generated more than $36 million in false insurance claims.

Garcia admitted operating dozens of physical therapy clinics in Florida that billed insurers for treatments that were either medically unnecessary or never provided at all.

Also on the list is Andrea Marroquin, the daughter of a notorious Colombian drug trafficker. Prosecutors allege Marroquin concealed a fraudulent marriage and used drug money inherited from her father to carry out a series of illicit real estate transactions in Miami before becoming a U.S. citizen.

The latest actions are part of a broader Trump administration push to dramatically expand denaturalization efforts nationwide.

Last year, the Justice Department directed federal prosecutors to prioritize cases involving individuals who obtained citizenship through fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment of serious criminal activity. The New York Times reported that USCIS was subsequently instructed to increase referrals of potential denaturalization cases, with reports indicating the agency was expected to identify between 100 and 200 new cases each month.

The administration argues the initiative is aimed at restoring integrity to the naturalization system and ensuring citizenship is reserved for immigrants who follow the law.

“The Trump administration is taking action to correct these egregious violations of our immigration system,” Blanche said in a previous announcement unveiling a separate round of denaturalization cases involving terrorism suspects, war criminals, sex offenders, and fraudsters.

Critics have accused the administration of vastly expanding a legal tool that historically was used only sparingly. For decades, denaturalization cases averaged roughly a dozen filings annually, but federal officials now say hundreds of potential cases are under review.

Under federal law, citizenship can be revoked if prosecutors prove it was obtained illegally or through willful misrepresentation of material facts during the naturalization process. The government carries a high burden of proof and must convince a federal court that citizenship was fraudulently secured.

For the Trump administration, however, the message is straightforward: if someone lied their way into American citizenship, the government intends to take a second look.

And for some of the nation’s worst criminals, that second look could mean losing the very citizenship they worked to obtain.

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White House Fight Night In Jeopardy As Virginia Residents Sue To Stop Trump’s UFC Spectacle

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1
White House image via Wikimedia Commons

President Trump’s plan to turn the White House lawn into the world’s most exclusive fight venue is facing a legal takedown attempt just days before the first punch is thrown.

Two Virginia residents have filed a federal lawsuit seeking an emergency injunction to stop UFC Freedom 250, the blockbuster mixed martial arts event scheduled for June 14 on the White House South Lawn as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court against the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior, alleges the Trump administration ignored federal permitting requirements, skipped mandatory environmental reviews and improperly approved a private sporting event on federally protected grounds.

The plaintiffs — retired Air Force Sgt. Paul Romano of Springfield, Virginia, and civic activist Susan Douglas of Alexandria, Virginia — are represented by the Public Integrity Project. They argue the White House South Lawn and nearby federal property are subject to strict regulations that generally prohibit commercial sporting events without congressional authorization and environmental review.

“This is fundamentally a private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain,” attorney Brendan Ballou, who represents the plaintiffs, told reporters.

At the center of the dispute is the administration’s reliance on special exemptions tied to the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations. The lawsuit contends UFC Freedom 250 is less a patriotic celebration and more a lucrative marketing opportunity for the UFC and its business partners.

Court filings specifically cite President Trump’s close relationship with UFC CEO Dana White and point to Trump’s reported purchase of up to $50,000 in stock of TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded parent company of the UFC. The complaint also names Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison among individuals who could potentially benefit from the event.

The lawsuit further alleges that a massive steel structure being erected on the South Lawn required congressional approval because of its location on federal property. Plaintiffs also argue environmental reviews required under federal law were never completed before construction began.

The challenge arrives as crews continue building the event site, which includes a 5,000-seat arena surrounding the UFC octagon. Large viewing screens are also planned for the nearby Ellipse, where organizers have discussed accommodating tens of thousands of additional spectators.

The White House quickly dismissed the lawsuit.

In a statement, administration officials called the case an “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory” effort designed to derail a properly permitted celebration, arguing the UFC card is no different than other events historically hosted on White House grounds.

Dana White has previously defended the event as a patriotic showcase tied to America’s 250th anniversary, insisting the UFC is not expecting to profit from the spectacle despite reports that production costs could reach tens of millions of dollars.

The historic event is expected to feature UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria defending his title against Justin Gaethje, with additional championship bouts planned for what would be the first major professional sporting event ever staged on White House grounds.

For now, the fight remains on schedule.

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Appeals Court Majority Appears Sympathetic To Challenge Against Trump’s White House Ballroom

By
Madeleine Jackson
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3

A federal appeals court panel appeared inclined Friday to side with opponents of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, raising new questions about whether the administration can move forward with the long-planned project without explicit authorization from Congress.

During oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, two judges repeatedly pressed administration attorney Michael Roth on whether existing federal law gives Trump the authority to construct a new ballroom on White House grounds.

The case stems from a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues that a federal statute prohibits new buildings on federal land in Washington, D.C., unless Congress specifically approves them.

A lower court judge previously halted above-ground construction, agreeing that Congress had not clearly authorized the project. The appeals court temporarily allowed work to continue while it considers the case.

The administration argues that Congress has already provided sufficient authority through laws allowing alterations and improvements to the White House and through statutes governing the National Park Service’s management of federal property.

But Judge Brad Garcia, a Biden appointee, appeared unconvinced.

“Promote the use of the National Park Service equals express authority to erect buildings?” Garcia asked Roth during the hearing.

“Yes, that’s our position,” Roth replied, arguing that lawmakers would have understood the law to grant that authority when it was enacted.

Garcia later suggested Congress intentionally retained control over major changes to the White House itself.

“It sure cares a lot about what is done to the White House, and so it’s going to retain more of a leash on the kinds of activities the president can undertake,” Garcia said.

Judge Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, also raised concerns about the administration’s interpretation of the law, signaling that at least two members of the three-judge panel may be sympathetic to the preservation group’s arguments.

The lone Trump appointee on the panel, Judge Neomi Rao, focused instead on whether the National Trust has legal standing to sue. The organization’s case relies in part on a member who regularly visits the area around the White House and argues the project would alter the historic character of the site.

“She says that she’s going to walk past the White House maybe once a month. She doesn’t really say anything specific,” Rao said, questioning whether that constitutes a concrete injury under federal law.

The challenge comes as Trump has increasingly sought congressional support for the project after legal obstacles slowed construction efforts.

The president originally proposed financing the ballroom through private donations, presenting the project as a way to modernize White House event space and reduce reliance on temporary structures for large state functions. Administration officials have also emphasized that portions of the work involve security upgrades that they argue should proceed regardless of the lawsuit.

The legal battle reflects a broader debate over who ultimately controls changes to federal property. The Constitution grants Congress authority over federal lands and buildings, a point repeatedly emphasized by attorneys representing the preservation group.

“That’s what the constitutional framework requires, which is that you do go to Congress, because Congress controls federal property,” attorney Thaddeus Heuer told the court.

The courtroom skepticism toward the administration comes amid growing political resistance on Capitol Hill. Earlier this week, Senate Republicans stripped a proposed $1 billion funding provision for the ballroom from a larger reconciliation package. Separately, six Republican senators joined Democrats in supporting an amendment that would have explicitly barred the project from moving forward without congressional approval.

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Trump Calls To Fire Fox News Host

By
Madeleine Jackson
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4

President Donald Trump is once again turning his fire on Fox News — this time demanding the network get rid of longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove after the former Bush adviser discussed Democrats’ midterm prospects during a Thursday appearance.

“FoxNews should get rid of sloppy RINO Karl Rove,” Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after Rove appeared on America’s Newsroom.

The president’s outburst came after Rove analyzed what Democrats would need to reclaim control of the House in next year’s midterm elections.

“Having a Democrat advantage of one [point] ain’t much. A Democrat advantage of four is significantly better,” Rove said. “But I’m thinking that they need to have at least five or six minimum lead in the advantage on the ballot if they’re going to take the House with a significant margin.”

Rove also noted that voter dissatisfaction could play a major role in determining the outcome.

“And remember, this is a contest between two unfavorables,” he said. “The president’s unfavorability is at 40%. The Democratic Party’s unfavorability is below 37. So who’s less popular and how’s that going to affect the outcome?”

That assessment apparently struck a nerve.

“He’s called ME and MAGA wrong for 11 years now, and he still doesn’t get it, and he never will, because he suffers from a completely inoperable, and totally dysfunctional, case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Trump wrote.

The president didn’t stop there.

“Put Karl Rove out to pasture, NOW. He is a LOSER, and he always will be!” Trump added.

The latest clash is hardly the first time Trump has publicly lashed out at a Fox News contributor or personality despite maintaining a generally friendly relationship with the conservative network.

Over the years, Trump has repeatedly targeted commentators who have challenged him on policy, polling, or political strategy. He has feuded with former Fox News host Chris Wallace, frequently blasted former House Speaker Paul Ryan during Ryan’s tenure on Fox’s board, and has repeatedly attacked Fox contributors he views as insufficiently supportive of his political movement.

Rove, one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable establishment figures, has often found himself in Trump’s crosshairs. The former deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush has been openly skeptical of some of Trump’s political instincts and has repeatedly offered critical assessments of the president’s electoral standing.

Following Trump’s State of the Union address earlier this year, Rove argued that portions of the speech “didn’t sound based in reality.” He has also long questioned whether Trump’s brand of politics represents the Republican Party’s future.

Back in 2019, Rove told National Review editor Rich Lowry that “The Republican Party is going to have to recreate itself after Donald Trump leaves office,” adding that the future direction of conservatism would depend on who ultimately succeeds Trump and his “dark charisma.”

The episode highlights Trump’s complicated relationship with Fox News. While he regularly attacks network personalities and even Fox chairman emeritus Rupert Murdoch when coverage displeases him, the president has also drawn heavily from the network’s talent pool when staffing his administration, appointing several former Fox hosts and contributors to key government positions.

For now, however, Rove appears to have earned a place on Trump’s ever-growing list of Fox News figures who have felt the president’s wrath for deviating from the MAGA script.

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Tulsi Gabbard Provides Update On Husband’s Condition

By
Madeleine Jackson
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4

Outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard shared an encouraging update Thursday on her husband’s battle with a rare form of bone cancer, revealing that a major surgery to remove the tumor was successful.

Gabbard said her husband, Abraham Williams, recently underwent a nearly seven-hour operation after being diagnosed with sacral chordoma, an extremely rare cancer that forms in the bones of the spine and skull base.

“The surgery to remove bone and surrounding tissue lasted almost seven hours and was successful,” Gabbard wrote in a post on X.

“He had a rough night and is in a lot of pain, but is finally home resting.”

The Trump administration official said the family is now focused on the recovery process.

“Now recovery begins. We’re so grateful for the outpouring of prayers and kind messages from all of you. Our hearts are full,” Gabbard added.

According to Mayo Clinic research, sacral chordoma is a rare, slow-growing bone cancer that most commonly develops along the spine. While considered slow-growing, the disease can be difficult to treat because of its location, and surgery is often the primary treatment option.

Before the procedure, Gabbard shared a heartfelt message thanking supporters for their prayers.

“We are humbled and so grateful to be surrounded by aloha during this really tough time,” she wrote.

The update comes just weeks after Gabbard announced she would step down from her position in the Trump administration to support her husband through the difficult battle ahead. (RELATED: Tulsi Gabbard Resigning As National Intelligence Director)

“My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer,” Gabbard wrote in May. “He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.”

President Donald Trump praised Gabbard following her resignation announcement, saying she had done “an incredible job” serving in his administration.

Vice President JD Vance also voiced support for the former Hawaii congresswoman.

“I’m sorry to see her go, but certainly understand that family comes first,” Vance said. “She and her husband Abraham will be in my prayers as they face this next challenge together, and she has my gratitude for being a great addition to the administration and a loyal confidante. Godspeed Tulsi!”

Gabbard’s final day in office is expected to be June 30.

The White House has also tapped Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William J. “Bill” Pulte to assume Gabbard’s intelligence role following her departure.

Gabbard, a former Democrat congresswoman from Hawaii, became one of the most prominent political converts of the 2024 election cycle when she endorsed Trump’s presidential campaign and later joined his administration.

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Arizona Attorney General To Pursue New Indictment In 2020 Election Case

By
Madeleine Jackson
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2
Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is taking another shot at prosecuting several allies of President Donald Trump after the Arizona Supreme Court declined to revive her earlier indictment.

Mayes’ office confirmed Thursday that prosecutors will present the case to a new grand jury, according to Politico.

The decision comes after a significant setback for Mayes, a Democrat, whose original case was thrown out over questions about how prosecutors presented the law to grand jurors.

At the center of the dispute was whether prosecutors properly provided the grand jury with the exact language of the statute defendants were accused of attempting to violate. A lower court found they had not. On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court declined to overturn that ruling, effectively ending the original indictment.

Rather than abandon the case, Mayes is now moving forward with a fresh grand jury presentation.

The original indictment targeted several high-profile Trump allies, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, constitutional attorney John Eastman, and a group of Republican activists who served as alternate electors in Arizona following the 2020 election.

Trump himself was not charged, although prosecutors identified him as an unindicted co-conspirator.

Mayes’ office alleged that Trump allies participated in a scheme to challenge Arizona’s 2020 election results through an alternate-elector effort. Prosecutors argued the plan involved fraudulent and forged documents that were ultimately sent to Congress.

The Arizona case is one of several prosecutions brought by Democratic officials in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

Many of those cases have encountered major legal obstacles.

In Georgia, the election-interference case against Trump and several co-defendants was thrown into uncertainty after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified from the prosecution.

At the federal level, former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s election-related case against Trump was dismissed after Trump won the 2024 presidential election and returned to office.

In Michigan, a judge dismissed criminal charges against a group of alternate electors after determining they were not the primary architects of the alleged effort.

Cases involving alternate electors remain active in Nevada and Wisconsin.

With Arizona’s highest court refusing to reinstate the original indictment, Mayes now faces the challenge of persuading a new grand jury that the case should move forward. Whether a second attempt succeeds remains to be seen, but the legal battle over the 2020 election continues to play out in courtrooms across the country.

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Trump Foe Bolton Expected To Plead Guilty In Classified Docs Case: Reports

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1
The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton — one of President Trump’s most relentless critics — is expected to plead guilty in his classified documents case, according to multiple reports Thursday.

ABC News reported that Bolton is expected to enter a guilty plea, citing sources familiar with the matter. CNN separately reported that the former Trump adviser is expected to plead guilty to one count of illegally retaining sensitive national security documents and pay a staggering $2 million fine.

If finalized, the plea would mark a stunning downfall for the hawkish former ambassador who spent years publicly blasting Trump after leaving the White House.

Bolton surrendered to federal authorities in October 2025 after being hit with Espionage Act charges tied to his alleged handling of classified materials.

Prosecutors accused Bolton of keeping and sharing highly sensitive national security information, including diary entries documenting his day-to-day activities as Trump’s national security adviser.

According to the indictment, the notes detailed classified briefings, meetings and government operations. CNN reported that prosecutors alleged Bolton shared some of those entries with his wife and daughter.

Federal agents raided Bolton’s Maryland home in August 2025, seizing documents marked “secret,” “confidential” and “classified,” along with electronic devices and files, according to court records.

The former Trump adviser denied wrongdoing after the indictment, accusing Trump of pursuing a politically motivated vendetta.

But now, according to reports, Bolton appears poised to change course.

The reported plea deal has not yet been publicly confirmed by Bolton or the Justice Department.

Bolton served as Trump’s national security adviser from 2018 to 2019 before the relationship imploded in spectacular fashion. Since then, he has become one of the president’s most vocal Republican critics, frequently attacking Trump in interviews, books and television appearances.

The expected guilty plea would represent a remarkable twist for the longtime Washington insider.

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Trump Posts Pardon Request For Ex-Congressman Hit With Insider Trading Charges

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1

President Donald Trump appears to be weighing a pardon for former Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), a one-time congressman convicted of insider trading, after sharing multiple pardon requests on his Truth Social account.

On Tuesday, Trump posted a letter from former Republican National Committee Chairman Robert James Nicholson urging him to grant Buyer a “full and unconditional pardon.” The letter, dated April 22, 2025, marks the second public appeal Trump has shared in recent days on Buyer’s behalf.

Trump offered no commentary alongside the post, but his decision to amplify the request has fueled speculation that he may be seriously considering clemency for the former lawmaker.

In the letter, Nicholson praised Buyer’s military and congressional service, describing him as “an honorable man and an extraordinary American.” Nicholson argued that Buyer had been targeted by a “politically weaponized federal and state judiciary” and claimed the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission pursued him as an act of political retribution.

Nicholson, who served as Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President George W. Bush, highlighted Buyer’s work as chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and credited him with helping improve veterans’ healthcare, information technology systems, and treatment programs for wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. He also noted that Buyer served on Trump’s 2016 presidential transition team and contributed to policy recommendations that later influenced the VA Mission Act.

The former RNC chairman concluded by asking Trump to issue a pardon and to seek dismissal of an SEC civil case against Buyer, writing that the former congressman “should have never been a political prisoner in America.”

The post follows a similar move by Trump on Sunday, when he shared another letter signed by several Republican officials requesting clemency for Buyer. That letter likewise alleged that Democratic political figures and government officials sought revenge against the former congressman because of his role in high-profile Republican efforts against President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.

Buyer was sentenced in 2023 to 22 months in federal prison after being convicted of insider trading. According to the Department of Justice, prosecutors proved that Buyer participated in two insider-trading schemes in 2018 and 2019, using confidential information obtained through consulting work to make profitable securities trades before the information became public.

Trump’s public promotion of the pardon requests comes as he faces scrutiny over stock trading activity linked to major policy announcements during his presidency, adding another layer of attention to any potential clemency decision involving a lawmaker convicted of financial crimes.

Read the full letter below:

Dear Mr. President,

Without any reservation, I strongly endorse a full and unconditional pardon for Congressman Stephen Buyer, Ret. He served Indiana for 18 years in Congress before announcing his retirement when his wife was diagnosed with an incurable disease. He also served our nation in the US Army during war and peace in both active and reserve components for 30 years before retiring as a Colonel.

Congressman Buyer is an honorable man and an extraordinary American guided by his faith and committed to values and beliefs that I have personally witnessed. Like you, however, he has suffered the consequences of a politically weaponized federal and state judiciary.

Prior to the election of President George W. Bush, I served as the Chairman of the Republican National Committee. During the Administration of President Bush, I had the honor and privilege to represent our country as Ambassador to the Vatican and served as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a young Army officer, I served in Vietnam.

During my tenure as Secretary of the VA, it was a distinct honor to work with Congressman Buyer when he was in Congress serving as Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. As a veteran of the first Gulf War, he took his service to veterans and their needs most seriously. He strived to increase the quality of veteran healthcare and benefits, promote IT security, and bring efficiencies to the VA’s health enterprise.

I worked with Chairman Buyer to centralize the VA IT architecture in line and budget authority to promote security, commonality, efficiency, and savings through strategic sourcing. These accomplishments were inordinately important as our nation began to respond to the increase in wounded servicemembers who experienced traumatic brain injuries from Improvised Explosive Devices during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As the number of wounded, ill and injured were returning from those wars, we also worked together with the Senate to create and fund for poly-trauma centers in the VA.

Congressman Buyer served on your 2016 Presidential Transition Team, where he assisted in drafting the roadmap for the VA that your administration followed when it created the Mission Act.

Additionally, during his tenure as Chairman he contributed to the initial path for VA leadership to fulfill the goal of a seamless electronic health record between the VA and DOD by seeking a new electronic health record operating system for the VHA.

Congressman Buyer prosecuted President Bill Clinton in his Impeachment trial, sought an indictment against then first lady Hillary Clinton for obstruction of justice for hiding the infamous Rose Law Firm billing records, and defended the military overseas vote that was disenfranchised during the Florida recount of 2000 Presidential Election. The Clinton-Obama-Biden political surrogates never forgot his contributions to our country. The SEC and DOJ were weaponized against Congressman Buyer as political retribution and prosecuted him in criminal and civil courts without any direct evidence by testimony or document.

I am most hopeful Mr. President, you will be able to restore the integrity of the DOJ and SEC into serving the interest of justice in a manner that re-establishes the trust of the American people in our systems of government.

I respectfully request for you to give a full and unconditional pardon to Steve Buyer and to dismiss the

SEC civil suit against him. Steve Buyer should have never been a political prisoner in America. As our leader of the Republican Party and America, please send the message of fairness and justice to our fellow patriotic citizens and the observing world.

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