Paid brokers tout ties to Trump's orbit to lobby for presidential pardons

Paid brokers are actively courting President Trump in an effort to secure presidential pardons for their clients. These brokers are lawyers and lobbyists who charge exorbitant fees for their services, promising to use their connections to the president to help individuals who have been convicted of crimes. This practice is not illegal, but it has raised concerns about corruption in the pardon process.

One such client is Ammon Covino, a felon who was convicted of illegal wildlife trafficking and served 23 months in prison. Ammon and his wife Crystal recently decided to reapply for a pardon through a broker, despite the regular process being straightforward and only requiring a three-page form. They were initially rejected but sought another approach with the help of brokers.

Brokers claim that they have close relationships with members of President Trump's inner circle, including all of the Jan. 6 rioters and financial conmen who argue they were wrongly prosecuted. Some brokers charge up to $3 million for their services, and the Covinos learned that such high fees are necessary to gain the president's attention and secure a pardon.

For example, Boosie Badazz, a rapper with a criminal record, paid $600,000 to brokers who claimed to have connections with President Trump. However, Boosie did not receive his pardon, and the brokers denied any involvement in his case. The rapper is now suing the brokers for non-payment.

Law professor Mark Osler, who has helped indigent felons apply for pardons for 15 years, believes that brokers are locking out regular people from the pardon process. He claims that brokers require individuals to attend events, hire influencers, and engage in other activities that are costly and not necessary for the regular pardon application process.