Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said on Monday that he planned to &#8220;reissue&#8221; a criminal referral for Dr. Anthony Fauci and send it directly to President Donald Trump&#8217;s Justice Department.
Paul made the announcement via an X post after a New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/us/politics/biden-pardon-autopen-trump.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare">report</a> shed light on the number of pardons and commutations — supposedly issued by former President Joe Biden — that were signed with the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admits-he-used-autopen-for-mass-criminal-pardons-says-he-didnt-review-every-case">autopen</a> at the direction of Biden&#8217;s Chief of Staff, Jeff Zients.
According to the NYT, a number of pardons — including so-called &#8220;preemptive&#8221; pardons for people like Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of Biden&#8217;s family who had not actually been charged with crimes yet — were discussed at a meeting on January 19.
<blockquote>
At the Jan. 19 meeting, which took place in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House residence, Mr. Biden kept his aides until nearly 10 p.m. to talk through such decisions, according to people familiar with the matter.
The emails show that an aide to Mr. Siskel sent a draft summary of Mr. Biden’s decisions at that meeting to an assistant to Mr. Zients, copying Mr. Siskel, at 10:03 p.m. The assistant forwarded it to Mr. Reed and Mr. Zients, asking for their approval, and then sent a final version to Ms. Feldman — copying many meeting participants and aides — at 10:28 p.m.
Three minutes later, Mr. Zients hit “reply all” and wrote, “I approve the use of the autopen for the execution of all of the following pardons.”
</blockquote>
Paul, in response to the news that Fauci&#8217;s pardon had been among those that were issued by autopen on Zients&#8217; orders, declared his intention to push ahead with a criminal referral for Fauci.
&#8220;Today I will reissue my criminal referral of Anthony Fauci to Trump DOJ!&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today I will reissue my criminal referral of Anthony Fauci to Trump DOJ! <a href="https://t.co/trIhJHAOlx">https://t.co/trIhJHAOlx</a>
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1944763596614902143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Perjury is a crime. And Fauci must be held accountable,&#8221; he added a short time later.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Perjury is a crime. And Fauci must be held accountable. <a href="https://t.co/a1IlzAm154">https://t.co/a1IlzAm154</a>
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1944788688463872287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Paul has long held that Fauci intentionally <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trying-to-cover-your-a-rand-paul-charges-fauci-with-attempting-to-change-definition-of-gain-of-function-research">buried evidence</a> that the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated in a lab that specialized in gain-of-function research — and worked diligently to silence any in the scientific community who dared to dispute his repeated claim that it had developed naturally. He has also repeatedly accused Fauci of lying under oath to hide his own connections to the lab and type of research in question.

Anthony Fauci and Rand Paul

Why Rand Paul Says Biden’s Autopen Puts Fauci Back In His Crosshairs

Anthony Fauci

COVID-19

Crime

Joe Biden

Pardon

Politics

Rand Paul

Former President Joe Biden did not personally review every person who was granted a pardon in mass clemency actions signed by an autopen in the final months of his term, according to a new report. 
According to a Sunday <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/us/politics/biden-pardon-autopen-trump.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> by The New York Times, Biden “did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons that applied to large numbers of people,&#8221; but &#8220;signed off on the standards he wanted to be used to determine which convicts would qualify for a reduction in sentence.”
One of Biden’s aides stated that the Bureau of Prisons would provide the administration with new information on inmates eligible for pardons, prompting updates to the list of those scheduled for release. Staff would not run those changes by Biden, according to the aide. 

​​&#8221;Rather than ask Mr. Biden to keep signing revised versions, his staff waited and then ran the final version through the autopen, which they saw as a routine procedure, the aide said,” the Times reported. 
In his final months in office, Biden issued a series of controversial pardons and clemency actions. He<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-announces-mass-commutations-after-criticism-over-hunter-pardon"> issued</a> clemency to 1,500 people placed in home confinement during the COVID pandemic, pardons for 2,500 drug offenders, and pardons for his son, Hunter Biden, and other family members, as well as for Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 Committee. 
Biden did not personally sign any of the pardons or clemency actions he authorized in either December 2024 or January, with the exception of his son&#8217;s pardon. For all other cases, his staff used the autopen to finalize the actions.
According to the Times report, Biden made decisions “orally” during staff meetings, and then the actions were carried out by the staff secretary, Stefanie Feldman, who managed Biden’s autopen. 
President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have launched investigations into Biden over the use of the autopen, arguing that some of the pardons might have been made without the president’s assent. 
Biden <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/us/politics/biden-clemency-interview.html">claimed</a> that he made each one of the clemency decisions. 
“I made every single one of those. And — including the categories, when we set this up to begin with. And so — but I understand why Trump would think that, because obviously, I guess, he doesn’t focus much. Anyway, so — yes, I made every decision,” he said. 
Last week, Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s White House physician, repeatedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-now-clear-there-was-a-conspiracy-bidens-doctor-pleads-the-fifth-as-gop-probes-cover-up">declined</a> to answer questions during a deposition before Congress about Biden’s health status and the use of the autopen. O’Connor said he would not answer questions based on his Fifth Amendment rights and the physician-patient privilege.

Former President Biden Speaks at ACRD Conference in Chicago

Biden Admits He Used Autopen For Mass Criminal Pardons, Says He Didn’t Review Every Case

Clemency

Executive

Health

As Sean “Diddy” Combs stares down serious federal charges, including allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution, rumors have been swirling about whether the disgraced music mogul could somehow secure himself a presidential pardon.
But considering the current political landscape, would a Trump pardon only make things worse?
According to CEO of Reputation Management Consultants Eric Schiffer, not even a golden ticket from President Donald Trump could erase the “radioactive” fallout from the case. No matter what happens, Combs’s reputation is forever tarnished.
“If Trump waves the pardon wand and Diddy ditches or dodges prison, his brand won&#8217;t dodge the stain,” Schiffer told The Daily Wire in an exclusive interview. “A get out of jail signature still reads like a confession in gold Sharpie, given how Trump does it.”
It’s a harsh reality, but a realistic one. For decades, Diddy cultivated the persona of hip-hop royalty. Fans saw him as an entrepreneur, a hitmaker, and an absolute party legend. But now, rap’s notorious legend has fallen far from his perch after federal agents raided his homes and the lawsuits started piling up.
There’s no amount of PR rehab that can rehabilitate Diddy’s brand image overnight… or ever.
Plus, if a pardon comes courtesy of Trump, Schiffer warns it may only deepen the cultural divide already surrounding Diddy’s legal situation.
“I think a Trump pardon turns every ‘Bad Boy’ chorus into thinking about the president,” Schiffer joked. “And that labels his playlists in a way that also stains him.”
This isn’t just a political problem; it’s a commercial one. While Schiffer acknowledges Diddy’s talent as a “master propagandist and marketer,” he believes the damage is already done when it comes to corporate America.
“This has been a master class in brand evisceration,” he said. “Despite his genius as a marketer, which is undeniable, he can only spin a redemption brand story so far. And Madison Avenue won’t buy it.”
Schiffer says even a pre-trial pardon wouldn’t clear Diddy’s name in the eyes of Hollywood or major brands.
“A pardon rewrites the Spotify bio: ‘Grammy winner, entrepreneur, presidential beneficiary.’ And not in a positive way,” he said, adding that a pre-conviction pardon wouldn’t benefit the president either.
“It risks, for Trump, alienating every law-and-order voter,” Schiffer added, calling the concept a “reputational drag” for the president that he, as a PR expert, would advise against.
The music industry is keeping mostly quiet on the whole thing. Aside from rapper 50 Cent speaking out against the idea of a pardon, most artists have kept their distance, likely on the advice of publicists who know reputational poison when they see it.
“I have many celebrity clients who I won’t let comment on this,” Schiffer revealed. “They’ve never been to a party with [Diddy], never been involved — but it’s just not something I want them associated with.”
And the label “transportation for prostitution” isn’t just a legal problem. “In ‘Endorsement Land’ and in dealmaking, it’s a nuclear label,” Schiffer said. “He’s got problems that can’t be spun away.”
Still, if there’s one thing that time has shown, it’s that even disgraced celebrities can sometimes creep back into the limelight. Schiffer mentioned O.J. Simpson as someone who found an audience in his later years. Kevin Spacey, despite ongoing allegations, is starting to emerge in public again. But those cases still don’t offer a clear playbook for Diddy as he faces the possibility of life in prison and an eternity of a tarnished personal image.
“There’s degrees of audience rebuild,” Schiffer said, “but this will continue to be emblazoned across his forehead forever. There’s a radioactivity that doesn’t leave him. It just degrades slightly over time.”
When asked how long such decay might take, Schiffer didn’t mince words: “He may need to turn into a vampire before he gets his reputation back.”
That biting comment underscores the long odds Diddy is facing. A pardon might save him from prison. But it won’t save his brand in Hollywood or with fans. At best, he might claw back some niche support. “He’ll find a path to capture some audience,” Schiffer said. “And he’ll live with that stigma for some time.”
Whether that niche is enough to fuel a full comeback remains to be seen. For now, Diddy remains what Schiffer calls “a thousand-year problem.” Even the best PR campaign can’t speed up that timeline.

“Art for Life” Gala Honoring Sean “P. Diddy” Combs Hosted by Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons

Diddy’s Brand Is So ‘Radioactive,’ Not Even a Trump Pardon Can Fix It

Donald Trump

Sean 'Diddy' Combs

R&amp;B recording artist R. Kelly was taken to the hospital after experiencing symptoms of an overdose while spending time in solitary confinement, per an emergency motion for his release.
&#8220;Bureau of Prisons officials administered an amount of medication that significantly exceeded a safe dose and caused Mr. Kelly to overdose, putting his life in jeopardy,&#8221; the third supplement to the emergency motion filed by his attorney Beau Brindley says.
The document also notes how the singer &#8220;takes medication for anxiety and to help him sleep, in addition to other medications.&#8221; 
Brindley has been working to get his client released onto house arrest, claiming his life is in danger as long as he’s in prison, per <a href="https://people.com/r-kelly-overdose-hospital-prison-drugs-11756210">People</a>.
Kelly’s attorney also claimed his client required surgery that the prison was hindering him from getting.
&#8220;Mr. Kelly’s life is in jeopardy right now because the Bureau of Prisons denied him necessary surgery to clear clots from his lungs,&#8221; the supplement says. &#8220;He could die from this condition, and they are letting it happen. There is no legitimate explanation for that.&#8221;
The 55-year-old performer was found guilty on three of four counts of child pornography by a federal jury in 2022, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/r-kelly-convicted-on-multiple-charges-including-child-pornography">reported</a>. The charges carry a minimum of 10 years in prison.
Kelly was also found guilty on three of five counts of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.
The conviction comes after a judge convicted Kelly on all nine counts of racketeering and sex trafficking in New York earlier that same year. He was already serving a 30-year sentence behind bars as a result of that trial when the second guilty verdict was handed down. 
The singer has allegedly been in solitary confinement ever since Brindley filed an emergency motion seeking a temporary furlough on June 10, the outlet noted.
Brindley is also trying to secure a presidential pardon for his client and claims to have spoken with contacts with ties to Trump. Kelly and the president have no previous relationship beyond the fact that Kelly once lived in Trump Tower.
&#8220;He is not safe in federal custody,&#8221; Brindley said. &#8220;And to keep him in prison while he is under threat like this is cruel and unusual punishment.&#8221;

R Kelly

R. Kelly Reportedly Overdoses In Prison As His Lawyer Petitions For Trump Pardon

Celebrities

Entertainment

Music

Prison

President Donald Trump trades barbs with Elon Musk over the &#8220;Big, Beautiful Bill,&#8221; Trump implements a sweeping travel ban, and the president calls for an investigation into the Biden autopen controversy.
It’s Friday, June 6, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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<h2>MAGA Civil War</h2>
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Topline: The relationship between President Trump and Elon Musk implodes on the public stage.
The once cozy relationship between President Trump and Elon Musk is quickly deteriorating – on Thursday, the two men traded barbs on their respective social media platforms. In a series of Truth Social posts, the president said Elon was “wearing thin” and claimed he asked him to leave the White House. Trump implied that Elon was not actually mad about spending increases in the &#8220;Big, Beautiful Bill&#8221; and is instead lashing out at the Trump administration for revoking the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandate. Trump says the Tesla CEO “just went crazy” after he lifted the mandate, which “forced everyone to buy electric cars that no one else wanted.”
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
Meanwhile, over on <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1930698237650026675">X</a>, Musk denied Trump’s claims, floated the idea of starting a new political party, and accused Trump of being in the Epstein files. He’s also pulling up past statements from Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warning about the dangers of the national debt, essentially accusing both men of flip-flopping on what he’s now calling the “Big Ugly Spending Bill.”
The bill at the heart of the dispute narrowly passed through the House last month and is currently making its way through the Senate.
“I think the bill&#8217;s 90-95% there,” Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) told The Daily Wire. “The House has done a wonderful job trying to balance ultra-conservatives like me who want to work towards a balanced budget, as well as those people that are from blue or purple districts as well. I would like to see us cut a little bit more spending.”
The Congressional Budget Office says the bill will raise the deficit by $2.4 trillion over ten years – the White House disputes that figure, and argues that the CBO is under-predicting future economic growth and the additional revenue brought in by the president’s tariffs.
<h2>Travel Ban 2: Visas On ICE</h2>
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Topline: President Trump takes another swing at a sweeping travel ban. Will it survive legal challenges?
The president signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, the Congo, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Yemen, from entering the United States. That includes temporary visitors or those seeking permanent immigrant status. Seven more countries, including Venezuela and Cuba, will face a partial ban. While the order includes exemptions for existing visa holders and individuals whose entry “serves U.S. national interests” — presumably heads of state and other diplomats — just about everyone else looking to come from those countries will be kept out. The policy is reminiscent of a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-signs-proclamation-banning-travel-12-countries-cbs-news-reports-2025-06-04/">previous travel ban</a> Trump implemented during his first term.
In a <a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1930412786271547485">video</a> announcing the order, the president cited the terror threat posed by individuals from those countries, pointing to past attacks in Europe and the United States and arguing that the travel ban was a matter of national security. “Among the national security threats [the U.S. State Department] analysis considered are the large-scale presence of terrorists, failure to cooperate on visa security, inability to verify travelers&#8217; identities, inadequate record keeping of criminal histories and persistently high rates of illegal visa overstays,” Trump said.
The White House offered <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1011_CBP-Entry-Exit-Overstay-Report-FY23-Data.pdf">specific numbers</a> on countries with particularly egregious rates of visa violations. For example, 29% of Afghans here on student or worker visas have overstayed those visas and now live here illegally. Likewise, 49% of B-1/B-2 visas issued to visitors from Chad resulted in similar overstays. Trump says those overstay rates are indicative of a “blatant disregard for United States immigration laws.”
“The list is subject to revision based on whether material improvements are made,” the president continued. “Likewise new countries can be added as threats emerge around the world, but we will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe.”
The ban is part of a broader crackdown on immigration enforcement. President Trump has reportedly been dissatisfied with the number of criminal illegals being arrested — it’s been widely reported that top White House adviser Stephen Miller met with ICE officials and threatened to fire top brass if they did not begin detaining at least 3,000 illegals a day. In response, ICE appears to be ramping up its efforts. On Tuesday, the agency made <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/04/us-news/ice-arrests-surge-to-2200-in-one-day-after-trump-adviser-stephen-miller-pushed-to-dramatically-ramp-up-busts/">2,200 arrests</a> — their highest single-day total in history.
<h2>On Executives &amp; Autopens</h2>
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Topline: President Trump and Congress demand a probe into the Biden autopen controversy. Who signed off on major policies, and was Biden aware?
Trump has ordered an investigation into the Biden administration&#8217;s use of the autopen, following new revelations about the apparent cover-up of Biden’s mental and physical decline during his tenure. The president signed a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/reviewing-certain-presidential-actions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memo</a> calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead an investigation into the Biden administration&#8217;s use of this autopen, which mechanically signed Biden’s signature on official documents.
The investigation will look at whether staffers, who are not named, &#8220;unconstitutionally&#8221; exercised the president’s authority while deceiving the public about Biden’s mental and physical state. It will look at which policy documents were signed by the autopen, and who directed the autopen to be used.
“The autopen, I think, is the big scandal outside of the rigged election of 2020,” Trump said on Thursday.
The <a href="https://x.com/GOPoversight/status/1930351332856345072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">House Oversight Committee</a> also heard testimony this week on the validity of Biden&#8217;s executive orders and the possible abuse of the president&#8217;s autopen.
During Biden’s tenure, the White House issued more than 1,200 <a href="https://foxnews.com/category/politics/biden-executive-orders">presidential documents</a>, he appointed hundreds of judges to the federal bench, and issued more pardons and commutations than any administration in U.S. history. Trump’s memo also singles out Biden’s controversial decision to commute the sentences of dozens of dangerous criminals on federal death row, including mass murderers and child killers. Trump has previously highlighted Biden-era pardons, including that of Dr. Anthony Fauci, which he suggested was invalid because an autopen signed it.
In response, former President Joe Biden released a statement on Thursday that claimed he was the one who made the decisions about “pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations,” adding that “any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”

MorningWire-0428-3

Morning Brief: Trump And Elon Go To War, Travel Ban 2.0, & Biden’s Autopen Scandal

Afghanistan

Biden Administration

Elon Musk

Illegal Immigration

Media

Morning Wire

Travel Ban

Rapper 50 Cent said he would talk to President Donald Trump about the Sean “Diddy” Combs case after Trump did not rule out an executive pardon last week.
The recording artist, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, posted about the situation on his Instagram Reels on Friday. “He said some really bad things about Trump, it’s not ok. I’m gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy,” Jackson wrote, per <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/01/us-news/50-cent-vows-to-dissuade-trump-from-potential-diddy-pardon/">the New York Post</a>. 
“Donald doesn’t take well to disrespect, and doesn’t forget who chooses to go against him,” the rapper added in a follow-up.
“While working tirelessly to make America great again, there is no room for distraction. He would consider pardoning anyone who was being mistreated, not Puffy Daddy,” Jackson said.
The “In Da Club” rapper also shared a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKXRpnotQ0P/">screenshot</a> of an article claiming he was trying to &#8220;nuke&#8221; Combs&#8217; chances of pardon. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t say I would nuke anything, I simply said I will make sure Trump is aware,&#8221; Jackson wrote in the image caption.
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Combs, 55, has been held without bail since his September arrest on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. If convicted, the Bad Boy Records founder could face life in prison.
Trump indicated that a pardon for Combs isn’t off the table during an Oval Office press conference alongside Elon Musk on Friday. 
“Nobody’s asked. But I know people are thinking about it. I know they’re thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking,” the president said in response to Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-asked-about-potential-pardon-for-diddy">reported</a>.
Trump said he hasn’t been following the case closely, but was aware how much attention it was getting in the news.
“I haven’t seen him, I haven’t spoken to him in years,” Trump added of Combs. “He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics … that relationship busted up, from what I read. I don’t know — he didn’t tell me that, but I’d read some little bit nasty statements.”
“I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me,” he added.
Nathan Gay contributed to this report.

50 Cent

50 Cent Says He Will ‘Reach Out’ To Discourage Trump From Pardoning Diddy

50 Cent Says He Will 'Reach Out' To Discourage Trump From Pardoning Diddy 

President Trump declined to rule out a pardon for disgraced rapper Sean &#8220;Diddy&#8221; Combs if the hip-hop mogul is convicted on federal sex trafficking charges.
Trump made the remarks during an Oval Office press conference alongside Elon Musk on Friday, &#8220;Nobody&#8217;s asked. But I know people are thinking about it. I know they&#8217;re thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking,&#8221; the president said in response to Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy.
Trump said he hasn&#8217;t been following the case closely, but was aware of the extensive media coverage the trial was receiving.
Combs, 55, has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddy-tells-judge-hes-nervous-as-sex-trafficking-trial-begins-in-nyc?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Diddy+Tells+Judge+He%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%98Nervous%E2%80%99+As+Sex+Trafficking+Trial+Begins+In+NYC">held</a> without bail since his September arrest on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges in Manhattan. Combs&#8217; trial began in early May, and if convicted, the Bad Boy Records founder faces life in prison.
The president acknowledged his former ties to the embattled music mogul, but added that he hasn&#8217;t seen or spoken to Combs in years.
“I haven’t seen him, I haven’t spoken to him in years,” Trump said. “He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics … that relationship busted up, from what I read. I don’t know — he didn’t tell me that, but I’d read some little bit nasty statements.”
Trump emphasized that any pardon decision would be based solely on the merits of the case.
&#8220;I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don&#8217;t like me, it wouldn&#8217;t have any impact on me,&#8221; he stated.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Trump on possibly pardoning Diddy: &quot;Nobody&#39;s asked&#8230;I know people are thinking about it&#8230;I haven&#39;t been watching it too closely&#8230;I haven&#39;t spoken to him in years&#8230;I would certainly look at the facts.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/34e7SmBRvd">pic.twitter.com/34e7SmBRvd</a>
&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1928522470983606543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Since reclaiming the presidency in January, Trump has issued an unusually high number of pardons and commutations, often citing his own convictions as evidence of what he describes as a politicized justice system.
Trump <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/30/us-news/trump-doesnt-rule-out-pardon-for-diddy-if-convicted-of-sex-trafficking/">issued</a> 17 pardons and nine commutations on Wednesday alone, according to the New York Post.
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Prosecutors allege the music mogul used his fame and power to orchestrate what they call &#8220;freak offs&#8221; &#8212; sexual performances involving paid sex workers that were reportedly recorded without consent.
Recent testimony in the federal sex-trafficking trial has revealed <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2025/05/29/diddy-trial-live-updates-sean-combs-witness-testimony/">allegations</a> from Diddy’s former assistant &#8220;Mia&#8221; about rape and violence, corroborating accounts from stylist Deonte Nash, who testified to witnessing Combs physically assault Cassie Ventura until her head was bleeding. Ventura <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/diddy-trial-cassie-ventura-says-combs-raped-her-broken-up?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Diddy+Trial%3A+Cassie+Ventura+Says+Combs+Raped+Her+After+They+Had+Broken+Up">testified</a> that Combs raped her after they had broken up.
Diddy has pleaded not guilty on all charges.

Trump Asked About Potential Pardon For Diddy

Oval Office

White House

President Donald Trump issued a pardon for rapper NBA (“Never Broke Again”) YoungBoy, real name Kentrell Gaulden, on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old recording artist was previously sentenced to just under two years in prison on gun-related charges, per <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-youngboy-pardon-trump-weapons-charges-4e0129e9587c61a317acb4153b2e6f9c#">The Associated Press</a>.
“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist,” Gaulden said.
The rapper pleaded guilty to his involvement in a Utah pharmacy drug ring, which included charges of felony identity fraud and felony forgery. Those charges were downgraded to misdemeanors, and Gaulden was forced to pay a $25,000 fine. The following month brought more legal woes for the “Shot Callin’” singer. 
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Gaulden acknowledged that he was in illegal possession of weapons despite being a convicted felon and was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison by a Utah judge. He reached a settlement, including an almost two-year sentence, five years of probation, and a $200,000 fine. The rapper was released from prison in March, but the pardon means he won’t have to serve the five years of probation.
The performer has been involved in numerous criminal cases, including two attempted murder charges in 2016 when he was 17 years old, per <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/05/29/nba-youngboy-trump-pardon/83917364007/">USA Today</a>. The charges were reduced to aggravated assault with a firearm and resulted in a suspended 10-year prison sentence and probation. Gaulden was also involved in a 2018 assault and kidnapping, a 2019 assault and battery lawsuit, and a 2019 shooting in Miami, the outlet noted.
Gaulden recently announced his first headlining national tour, which is scheduled to begin in September and visit 32 cities nationwide.
Trump issued several other presidential pardons this week, including “Chrisley Knows Best” reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who are currently serving years-long sentences over numerous financial crimes. The president also pardoned former New York Congressman Michael Grimm and former Connecticut Republican Governor John Rowland.

NBA YoungBoy

Trump Issues Pardon For Rapper NBA YoungBoy

President Trump Issues Pardon For Rapper NBA YoungBoy

Rap Music

President Donald Trump is set to pardon “Chrisley Knows Best” stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who are currently serving years-long sentences over numerous financial crimes.
Video from the Oval Office shows Trump on Tuesday informing Savannah Chrisley, the couple&#8217;s daughter, that her parents would be granted a full pardon and coming back home in a matter of days.
&#8220;Your parents are gonna be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow,&#8221; Trump said on the call. &#8220;Congratulate your parents &#8212; I hear they are terrific people, this should not have happened.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
BREAKING!
President Trump calls <a href="https://twitter.com/_ItsSavannah_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ItsSavannah_</a> to inform her that he will be granting full pardons to her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley!
Trump Knows Best! <a href="https://t.co/j5WPMOOQ7L">pic.twitter.com/j5WPMOOQ7L</a>
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1927470034688839944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
Savannah, a supporter of Trump&#8217;s and senior fellow of the Nolan Center for Justice, posted a video on social media thanking the president for calling her personally and bringing her family back together.
&#8220;We are freaking out over here,&#8221; Savannah, wearing a MAGA hat, said in a video posted to Instagram. &#8220;We have shed so many tears. The president called me personally, as I was walking into Sam&#8217;s Club, and notified me that he was signing pardon paperwork for both my parents. So, both my parents are coming home!&#8221;
&#8220;The fact that the president called me &#8212; I will forever be grateful for President Trump, his administration, and everyone along the way,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;I am eternally grateful.&#8221;
Savannah noted that Trump&#8217;s unconditional pardon will give her parents &#8220;their lives back,&#8221; and added that she intends to wear her pink &#8220;MAGA&#8221; hat when she goes to pick them up.
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As previously reported by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reality-stars-todd-and-julie-chrisley-sentenced-to-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a>, the Chrisleys were convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Additionally, Julie was convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
Todd is serving out a 12-year sentence, while Julie was sentenced to seven years behind bars. The couple, however, did get their sentences slightly reduced in 2023, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reality-tv-stars-todd-and-julie-chrisleys-sentences-have-been-reduced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> highlighted.
CPAC Foundation’s Nolan Center for Justice cheered the coming pardon.
&#8220;Todd and Julie Chrisley &#8230; were prosecuted under political circumstances years ago resulting in a combined 19-year prison sentence,&#8221; the statement <a href="https://www.cpac.org/post/nolan-center-for-justice-celebrates-pardoning-of-todd-and-julie-chrisley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Nolan Center for Justice Senior Fellow Savannah Chrisley, has been a tireless advocate for their release, providing evidence of prosecutorial misconduct and political bias in their case. A recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report supported claims that Georgia investigators improperly accessed the Chrisleys’ financial records, highlighting the systemic issues within our justice system.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: President Trump announces he will pardon Todd and Julie Chrisley, parents of CPAC&#8217;s Nolan Center for Justice Senior Fellow <a href="https://twitter.com/_ItsSavannah_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ItsSavannah_</a> <a href="https://t.co/SQ5yyVgMaI">pic.twitter.com/SQ5yyVgMaI</a>
— CPAC (@CPAC) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPAC/status/1927482909012947050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/they-should-not-have-been-prosecuted-trump-pardons-23-pro-lifers-targeted-by-biden-doj" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘They Should Not Have Been Prosecuted’: Trump Pardons 23 Pro-Lifers Targeted By Biden DOJ</a>

Julie and Todd Chrisley

Trump To Pardon Reality Stars Todd And Julie Chrisley; Daughter Posts Tearful Thank You Video

Trump To Pardon Reality Stars Todd, Julie Chrisley; Daughter Posts Tearful Thank You Message

Reality stars

Reality TV

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he was pardoning a Virginia sheriff sentenced to 10 years in prison on bribery charges, saying the Biden administration had politically targeted the former law enforcement officer. 
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he was issuing a full pardon to former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was convicted in December 2024 on charges that he handed out auxiliary deputy positions for money. Jenkins, who was set to report to prison on Tuesday, disputed the accusation and conviction, saying the prosecution was motivated by his conservative views. 
“Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his wife Patricia, and their family have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ. In fact, during his trial, when Sheriff Jenkins tried to offer exculpatory evidence to support himself, the Biden Judge, Robert Ballou, refused to allow it, shut him down, and then went on a tirade,” Trump wrote. “As we have seen, in Federal, City, and State Courts, Radical Left or Liberal Judges allow into evidence what they feel like, not what is mandated under the Constitution and Rules of Evidence.” 
“This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn’t deserve to spend a single day in jail. He is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left ‘monsters,’ and ‘left for dead.’ This is why I, as President of the United States, see fit to end his unfair sentence, and grant Sheriff Jenkins a FULL and Unconditional Pardon. He will NOT be going to jail tomorrow, but instead will have a wonderful and productive life,” Trump added. 
Jenkins first made national headlines back in 2019 when he promised to deputize thousands of Culpeper residents if the Democrat-controlled Virginia legislature moved forward with strict gun control measures. 
“Every Sheriff and Commonwealth Attorney in Virginia will see the consequences if our General Assembly passes further unnecessary gun restrictions,” Jenkins <a href="https://wset.com/news/local/culpeper-sheriff-says-hell-deputize-residents-if-gun-laws-pass-in-virginia?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on Facebook at the time. “I plan to properly screen and deputize thousands of our law-abiding citizens to protect their constitutional right to own firearms.”
He also later <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/04/17/law-enforcement-rallies-around-virginia-sheriff-caught-sting-operation-defying-democrats/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">participated</a> in a phone call with other sheriffs discussing potential charges against Hunter Biden based on revelations from the laptop showing his drug use and questionable business dealings. 
After that call, Jenkins was wrapped up in a sting operation where federal prosecutors <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/former-culpeper-sheriff-sentenced-10-years-federal-bribery-charges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that he accepted cash bribes in the form of campaign contributions, including from two undercover FBI agents, in exchange for becoming auxiliary deputy sheriffs. 
In December 2024, Jenkins was convicted by a jury that found he took $75,000 in campaign donations in exchange for handing out auxiliary deputy badges. According to the Justice Department, those who bribed Jenkins were not trained or vetted and did not do legitimate law enforcement work. He was sentenced in March to 10 years in prison. 
“Scott Jenkins violated his oath of office and the faith the citizens of Culpeper County placed in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme,” Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Zachary Lee said at the time. “We hold our elected law enforcement officials to a higher standard of conduct and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable.”
After the trial, Jenkins maintained his innocence and said that he wasn’t given the opportunity to give his side of the story. 
&#8220;I truly believe if I could get an hour of time with someone in the administration and lay out some facts with my attorney and I really believe if they could hear the other side which I couldn&#8217;t get in front of the jury – I believe whole heartedly in the president,&#8221; he said during a video call. &#8220;I believe if he heard the information, I know he would help if he knew my story.&#8221;

Gun Rights Advocates From Across U.S. Rally In Virginia’s Capital Against Gun Control Legislation

Here’s Why Trump Says He’s Pardoning A Virginia Sheriff Convicted Of Bribery

Bribery

Virginia

President Trump on Thursday pardoned Nikola founder and one-time rival of Elon Musk Trevor Milton, who was convicted in federal court in 2022 of defrauding investors in the electric truck company, claiming that he was targeted by prosecutors because he &#8220;supported Trump.&#8221;
Milton, 42, claimed he was targeted by prosecutors because he &#8220;supported Trump&#8221; to the tune of nearly $1 million since 2016.
Milton was sentenced to 4 years in prison and a $1 million fine in December 2023 after being convicted on several counts of securities and wire fraud charges in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
The former CEO expressed relief in an Instagram video Thursday, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/28/trump-pardons-nikola-trevor-milton-ceo-securities-fraud-electric-vehicle.html">saying</a>, &#8220;I just got a call from the president of the United States, on my phone, and he signed my full and unconditional pardon of innocence.&#8221;
When asked about the pardon, Trump told reporters, &#8220;They say the thing that he did wrong was, he was one of the first people that supported a gentleman named Donald Trump for president.&#8221;
He added that prosecutors &#8220;persecuted, they destroyed five years of his life. He &#8230; fought for five years of his life, and he did nothing wrong.&#8221;
Milton <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/founder-of-nikola-motor-company-trevor-milton-pardoned-by-president-trump-302413783.html">claimed</a> in a press release that there were &#8220;striking similarities&#8221; between his case &#8220;and those brought against President Trump,&#8221; stating, &#8220;This pardon is not just about me — it&#8217;s about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that&#8217;s a lot of people.&#8221;
Milton’s 2022 conviction stems from the former CEO’s false claims &#8220;that the company had early success in creating a &#8216;fully functioning&#8217; semi-truck prototype known as the &#8216;Nikola One,&#8217; when Milton knew the prototype was inoperable,&#8221; prosecutors said at the time.
Since his January inauguration, President Trump has issued numerous high-profile pardons, including approximately 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol events, Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, and Devon Archer, who was once a business partner of Hunter Biden.
Nikola&#8217;s financial situation deteriorated significantly before Milton&#8217;s pardon, with the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2025. The electric truck maker reported owing between $1 billion and $10 billion to creditors.
This marked a stunning reversal for a company that once boasted a $30 billion market value in 2020, temporarily surpassing automotive giant Ford&#8217;s valuation.
The company has only sold 600 cars since the third quarter of 2022, CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/28/trump-pardons-nikola-trevor-milton-ceo-securities-fraud-electric-vehicle.html">reports</a>.
In his Instagram video announcement, Milton appeared visibly emotional while driving, calling it &#8220;probably the best day I&#8217;ve had in five years.&#8221;
He added, &#8220;I am free. The prosecutors can no longer hurt me. They can&#8217;t destroy my family, they can&#8217;t rip everything away from me, they can&#8217;t ruin my life.&#8221;
Milton&#8217;s press release further criticized the justice system, stating, &#8220;It is no wonder why trust and confidence in the Justice Department has eroded to nothing.&#8221;

Sentencing of Nikola Founder Trevor Milton After Fraud Conviction

Former Musk EV Rival Trevor Milton Pardoned By Trump

Trump Administration

U.S.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned Devon Archer, the right-hand man of Hunter Biden. Archer was convicted of defrauding a Native American tribe in a business deal. Some allege that evidence indicates Hunter Biden may have been involved, though his involvement was kept out of court.
The <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/23/opinion/miranda-devine-trump-to-grant-full-pardon-to-hunter-biden-whistleblower-devon-archer-he-was-screwed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a> reported on Tuesday that the pardon came after Archer met Trump at a wrestling match on Saturday, with Trump coming to view Archer as an “anti-Biden person.” 
“He was screwed by the Bidens. They destroyed him like they tried to destroy a lot of people,” he told the paper.
Peter Schweizer, the author of &#8220;Clinton Cash,&#8221; who has been at the forefront of investigating the Biden family&#8217;s influence-peddling, told The Daily Wire, &#8220;The thinking seems to be that Hunter Biden broke the law and didn’t get punished. Since Devon Archer also broke the law, he shouldn’t be punished. That is not the arithmetic of justice.&#8221;
Archer’s animosity toward Democrats arguably comes not out of shared anger at their corruption or ideology, but because he did not benefit enough from political favors, a Daily Wire review of materials on Hunter Biden&#8217;s laptop suggests.
On March 6, 2019, Archer texted Hunter, “Why did your dad’s administration appointees arrest me and try to put me in jail? Just curious… Why would they try and ruin my family and destroy my kids and no one from your family’s side step in and at least try to help me. I don’t get it. And I’m depressed. Bunch of these Asians getting in my head asking me the same so just curious what I should answer.”
Hunter replied, “we aren’t a banana republic buddy. The powerful are targets in this country the more powerful they become. But the truth prevails if you have the stamina and guts and enough love to stay the course.”
He added: &#8220;Every great family is persecuted prosecuted in the US— you are part of a great family—not a side show not deserted by them even in your darkest moments. Thats the way Bidens are different and you are a Biden. Its the price of power.&#8221;
Before President Joe Biden left office, he pardoned his son Hunter for a decade of crimes, rubbing in an apparent double standard.
In 2023, Archer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/intimidated-biden-brand-helped-ukrainian-company-survive-hunters-ex-associate-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testified</a> under oath to House Republicans investigating the Biden family’s influence-peddling. He did not provide any smoking gun, saying he was “not aware” of any wrongdoing by then-president <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden">Biden</a> and had no knowledge of him altering U.S. foreign policy to benefit his son. But he said that Hunter was in the business of trading on the Biden &#8220;brand,&#8221; and that the elder Biden was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/key-testimony-alleges-biden-met-with-with-sons-business-partner-kazakh-bank-official" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on speakerphone</a> with his son during more than 20 calls relating to foreign business deals dating back to 2014.
Laptop emails suggest that at the time, Archer was all for using Biden’s brand to make money. For example, in September 2012, Hunter sent him an article claiming that Joe Biden was the star at the Democratic National Convention. “Share with our KZ friends- maybe spur them on,” he said, apparently referring to potential business associates in Kazakhstan who would be more tempted to pay the pair if they were seen as being hitched to a winning political horse.
“Good idea,” Archer wrote.
Then-vice president Biden later discussed expanding overseas business deals in Kazakhstan with Hunter, Archer, and an international banker during an in-person meeting at his Washington, D.C., mansion, Archer told Congress.
Others told GOP investigators that Archer was a willing participant in Hunter’s grift. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hunter-biden-called-father-from-lavish-russian-party-asked-for-help-getting-deal-over-the-finish-line-ex-associate-says" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jason Galanis testified</a>, “In 2014, I agreed with Hunter and Devon that the Burnham and Company enterprise would be significantly enhanced by forming a partnership with Harvest Fund Management, a $300 billion Chinese financial services company closely connected to the Chinese Communist Party.”
Materials promoting Burnham listed Hunter as being involved, in addition to Archer. Archer was convicted of charges related to Burnham&#8217;s schemes, and his attorney said that Hunter was also part of the deal, but Hunter was never charged. Hunter&#8217;s attorney claimed he was listed as a participant in the venture without his consent.
Archer was on the board of Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company. He was college roommates with Christopher Heinz, the stepson of John Kerry, and the trio did business together, but Heinz avoided their sketchy international business. Archer was also a Democratic fundraiser before supporting Trump&#8217;s election last year.
Galanis, the businessman and Hunter Biden associate who pled guilty to the scheme to defraud the Native American tribe, said what Hunter and Archer brought to the table were political connections. “The words ‘lean-in’ were used often by Devon and Hunter in our business dealings as a term for access to Vice President Biden’s political influence.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/death-row-or-wanted-for-murder-the-cursed-lives-of-hunter-bidens-associates">Death Row Or Wanted For Murder: The Cursed Lives Of Hunter Biden’s Associates</a>

Devon Archer

‘Screwed By The Bidens’: Trump Pardons Hunter Biden’s Business Partner Devon Archer

Department of Justice

Hunter Biden

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