Wall Street Journal: “Trump has turned the pardon process into the Wild West. What had long been a sober legal proceeding done by career officials in the Justice Department increasingly resides in the White House and depends on the whims of a president who is receptive to arguments of political persecution…”
“Pardon seekers are shelling out to hire lawyers and lobbyists who tout access to those in the president’s inner circle. Others seek to make their case to Trump or his inner circle at places they frequent, showing up at events at Mar-a-Lago, GOP hangouts on Capitol Hill and a collegiate wrestling match.
And still others connect with conservative influencers, pitching their case on shows Trump consumes.”