In the United States, former Republican congressman Stephen Buyer received a full pardon from President Donald Trump after serving nearly two years in prison for insider trading. Buyer, who was sentenced to 22 months in prison in 2023, was convicted for making illegal stock trades while working as a consultant and lobbyist. He was ordered to forfeit over $350,000 in illegal gains and pay a $10,000 fine. The pardon was granted in June 2025, with Trump citing Buyer’s distinguished career as a judge advocate general in the Army and his service in the House of Representatives. Buyer, who maintains his innocence, described the prosecution as politically motivated and horrific, claiming he was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. The pardon was supported by letters from over 40 former Republican congressmen, who argued that Buyer was targeted due to his involvement in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in 1998. They claimed that he was a victim of lawfare conducted by the Biden Administration. The Constitution grants the president broad powers to issue pardons for federal crimes, which do not erase a criminal record but can be seen as acts of mercy or justice. This pardon is part of a broader trend during Trump’s second term, where he has used his clemency powers to assist political allies and prominent figures.