Former US President Donald Trump has granted full pardons to 77 political allies who were central to attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election.
The list of names was released late on Sunday night by Trump's Pardon Attorney, Ed Martin, who posted it on the social media platform X under the banner "Important pardon of Alternate Electors of 2020!!" The document states the pardons are "full, complete and unconditional".
Key Figures Granted Clemency
Among the high-profile recipients are several of Trump's most prominent supporters. These include his former personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and his ex-Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows.
Also pardoned were attorneys John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro, who were instrumental in crafting legal strategies, as well as adviser Boris Epshteyn and conservative lawyer Sidney Powell.
All were linked to the scheme of putting forward alternative slates of electors in states won by Joe Biden. While none had been charged with federal crimes, these pardons are seen as a pre-emptive move that may prevent any future federal prosecutions.
A Controversial Use of Power
This action forms part of a broader pattern during Trump's second term, where his use of presidential clemency has heavily favoured figures personally loyal to him. Since returning to office, Trump has pardoned more than 1,000 supporters who took part in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Critics argue this raises serious questions about whether the presidential pardon power is being used to shield political allies rather than correct genuine miscarriages of justice. Legal experts warn it sets a dangerous precedent where political loyalty, rather than the legal process, becomes the key factor in receiving clemency.
In a statement attached to the pardon, the Trump administration framed the move differently, claiming it "ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election and continues the process of national reconciliation." The document specifically notes that the pardon does not apply to the president of the United States.
Limitations and Lasting Impact
While the pardons are largely symbolic on a federal level, they could complicate potential future federal cases. However, their power is limited. Many of those named have been charged in state-level investigations in Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada, where a US presidential pardon holds no jurisdiction.
Ed Martin, appointed US Pardon Attorney in May and regarded as Trump's "clemency czar," accompanied the list with a previous post reading: "No MAGA left behind." Supporters of the move describe the pardons as a necessary correction of politically motivated prosecutions.
Opponents, however, contend they effectively erase accountability for direct attempts to subvert a democratic election. Some of the individuals pardoned were identified by prosecutors as key figures in pressuring state officials and drafting the legal strategies aimed at overturning the election result, underscoring the profound political and constitutional implications of this action.
