Trump’s Clemency Gap: 85% White, 90% Jan. 6 Defendants, Leaving Minorities Behind

In a startling revelation, a new report by Rep. Ayanna Pressley shows that 85% of the people granted pardons or clemency by President Donald Trump this year are white, and Jan. 6 defendants account for 90% of those who benefited.

Trump’s Clemency Usage

During his second term, Trump used his pardon power aggressively, most notably granting blanket clemency to roughly 1,500 criminal defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Those Jan. 6 defendants collectively make up 90% of the more than 1,700 people who received pardons or clemency since Jan. 20. The president’s clemency actions were documented from Jan. 20 through Dec. 5, based on White House announcements, Justice Department records, the U.S. Sentencing Commission, academic research institutions, and news reports.

Report Findings

The 19‑page document, titled “Trump’s Clemency Gap,” compares the demographics of clemency recipients to the general federal prison population. It finds that 85% of recipients are white, 5% Latino, and 8% Black, while the federal prison population is 25% white, 36% Hispanic, and 34% Black. Only nine clemency actions benefited people convicted of drug offenses, even though more than 60,000 people are in prison for such crimes.

A notable exception highlighted in the report is Trump’s pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted by an American jury of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and sentenced to 45 years behind bars. In late November, Trump said that, “according to many people that I greatly respect,” Hernández was “treated very harshly and unfairly.”

The report also notes that roughly $1.4 billion in restitution and fines were lost as a result of Trump’s clemency grants, citing a House Democratic memorandum released in June. “Trump has used his clemency authority to absolve $1.4 billion, allowing people to profit from their crimes and costing the federal government money that could have been put toward public goods, restorative justice programs, and more,” the report says.

Impact and Criticisms

Pressley’s office stated, “Donald Trump’s use of clemency and pardons has neglected many of the most marginalized and impacted communities.” In an interview, she added, “What this report illustrates is that Donald Trump has neglected to use the powerful tool of clemency to benefit those who need it the most.”

NBC News reached out to the White House for comment, but the report was first shared with NBC News. Pressley’s office did not compile a report on former President Joe Biden’s pardon and commutation record, a spokeswoman confirmed.

Broader Context

Biden issued the most individual pardons and commutations of any president in U.S. history, setting the record for the largest single‑day act of clemency a few days before leaving office by commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. He also pardoned his son Hunter Biden.

Pressley, a progressive who has represented Massachusetts ’7th Congressional District since 2019, sent a letter to Alice Johnson, the Trump administration’s “pardon czar.” In the letter, she urged Johnson to “prioritize clemency for those who have been disproportionately harmed by systemic injustices.” She wrote, “Pardons and commutations have the power to transform people’s lives. It should not be limited to wealthy people and political allies.”

Johnson became a key advocate for criminal‑justice reform after Trump commuted her life sentence during his first term. By then, she had served more than 21 years of a life sentence for a first‑time, nonviolent drug offense. Kim Kardashian lobbied the White House for her release. Pressley told Johnson, “Your own personal story is a powerful testament to the importance of granting clemency to those directly harmed by systemic injustices,” according to a copy shared with NBC News.

Key Takeaways

• 85% of Trump’s clemency recipients are white, and 90% are Jan. 6 defendants.
• Only nine drug‑offense cases received clemency, despite 60,000+ in prison for such crimes.
• The report highlights a $1.4 billion loss in restitution and fines due to clemency.

The findings underscore a stark disparity in how presidential clemency has been applied, raising questions about equity and the role of the pardon power in addressing systemic injustice.