Trump pardons convicted Ponzi scheme operator, sparking outrage among victims

Colorado pig farmer John Long, an elderly Trump voter, received notice that Marian Morgan would be freed before serving half of her 33-year prison term after President Trump issued a commutation. Morgan, convicted for operating a Ponzi scheme that extracted millions from Long, his son and numerous other investors, was also released from the restitution she owed her victims. Long labeled her "criminally insane" and warned she would likely target new victims.

Other defrauded individuals, such as Judith Ausmus of Minnesota, recounted severe financial losses, including the collapse of their business and the need to remortgage homes. The victims expressed disappointment, saying the pardon undermines the justice they fought to achieve. Observers note that the current administration’s pardon process appears to rely on direct White House requests rather than the traditional Department of Justice vetting, suggesting a shift toward a pay-for-pardon model.