Pardon brokers pitch $300,000 deals to Trump, promising direct White House access

During a mid-August meeting at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, lobbyists Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl pitched convicted aquarium operator Ammon Covino a $300,000 service to obtain a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. They argued that pressure from multiple angles could sway the president, promising a pardon as early as October. Covino’s request had already been denied by the Justice Department, and he was cooperating with one outlet, which recorded the encounter.

The investigation shows that most of Trump’s recent clemency actions bypass the traditional Justice Department review, with brokers leveraging White House contacts and MAGA influencers for steep fees. Experts cited fees that can reach $3 million and highlighted cases like nursing-home operator Joseph Schwartz, whose $960,000 lobbying payment preceded a pardon. The story also notes legal challenges, such as rapper Boosie Badazz’s arbitration claim for a $600,000 advance that was not refunded.