# US presidential pardon broker investigation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-presidential-pardon-broker-investigation
> Updated: 2026-09-15T01:22:25.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

An investigation has uncovered a lucrative industry of ‘pardon brokers’ who claim they can secure presidential clemency for high fees by leveraging connections to the president’s inner circle. In one recorded instance at a Virginia hotel, lobbyists Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl reportedly pitched a ‘pincer movement’ strategy to a convicted felon, requesting $300,000 to apply pressure on the president through insiders and influencers rather than using standard Department of Justice channels.

Following these revelations, Democratic lawmakers have pledged to investigate the practice. Representative Jamie Raskin characterized the brokers as having ‘basically converted the president’s pardon power into a for-profit industry,’ describing the situation as an ‘assembly line of clemency for cash.’ Lawmakers indicated intentions to examine all parties involved in these high-priced services, which can reportedly cost felons up to millions of dollars.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-15: Democrats pledge investigation into Trump pardon brokers

Democratic lawmakers vow to investigate a ‘for-profit’ pardon broker industry that uses lobbyists and influencers to pressure the president for clemency in exchange for large fees.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/democrats-pledge-investigation-into-trump-pardon-brokers

### 2026-09-14: Lobbyists pitch high-priced services to secure presidential pardons

Lobbyists Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl are reportedly acting as pardon brokers, charging high fees to help felons secure presidential clemency through political influence rather than standard DOJ channels.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pardon-brokers-allegedly-charge-high-fees-to-influence-trump-clemency

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Cite as: US presidential pardon broker investigation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-presidential-pardon-broker-investigation