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BumRushDaShow

(165,049 posts) Tue Dec 16, 2025, 02:15 PM Tuesday

85% of people given federal pardons or clemency this year are white, House lawmaker's report says

Source: NBC News

Dec. 16, 2025, 8:00 AM EST

Eighty-five percent of the people granted pardons or clemency this year by President Donald Trump are white, and Jan. 6 defendants made up 90% of those who benefited, according to a new report compiled by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform.

Five percent are Latino and another 8% are Black, according to the report, which was first shared with NBC News.

Comparing these statistics against the makeup of the general federal prison population, Pressley’s report notes that a quarter of that population is white, 36% Hispanic and 34% Black.

“Donald Trump’s use of clemency and pardons has neglected many of the most marginalized and impacted communities,” her office said in a statement accompanying the report. “What this report illustrates is that Donald Trump has neglected to use the powerful tool of clemency to benefit those who need it the most,” Pressley said in an interview. NBC News has reached out to the White House for comment.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/85-people-federal-pardons-clemency-year-are-white-house-lawmakers-repo-rcna248867

Link to Rep. Pressley PRESS RELEASE - Pressley Unveils First-of-Its-Kind Report Exposing Trump’s Clemency Gap, How Pardons Neglect Those Who Need Them Most

Link to LETTER to "Pardon Czar" (PDF) - https://pressley.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Congressional-Letter-to-Pardon-Czar-Alice-Johnson.pdf

Link to REPORT (PDF) - https://pressley.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Pressley-Report-Trumps-Clemency-Gap.pdf

10 replies

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85% of people given federal pardons or clemency this year are white, House lawmaker's report says (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Tuesday OP

NONE of those pardoned deserved it. mdbl Tuesday #1

And the other 15% were pardoned by Biden before Jan 20? hedda_foil Tuesday #2

Here are the demographics of Biden's pardons (most, as IIRC he did some after the article's publication date) BumRushDaShow Tuesday #4

So we can conclude that at least 85% of the criminals are, well, white? twodogsbarking Tuesday #3

Hear Hear! OldBaldy1701E Tuesday #7

That low ? That seems implausible. nt eppur_se_muova Tuesday #5

How many were women??? ultralite001 Tuesday #6

Indeed! (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Tuesday #8

How many went on to face additional charges after their pardon/clemency applications were approved? EarthFirst Tuesday #9

Being white (very much so) I must apologize to all of the "non-whites" for what the white people have done twodogsbarking Wednesday #10

mdbl

(7,996 posts)

1. NONE of those pardoned deserved it.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 02:30 PM

Tuesday

He just likes criminal friends around to exploit when he needs them.

hedda_foil

(16,895 posts)

2. And the other 15% were pardoned by Biden before Jan 20?

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 03:22 PM

Tuesday

BumRushDaShow

(165,049 posts)

4. Here are the demographics of Biden's pardons (most, as IIRC he did some after the article's publication date)

Reply to hedda_foil (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 03:40 PM

Tuesday

Who was pardoned in Biden's clemency? Data breakdown of demographics, ages

(snip)

About 61% of those were white, 37% Black, 1.8% Asian and 0.5% American Indian. Overall, 57% of people in prisons are white, 39% Black, 1.5% Asian and 2.9% American Indian. The data did not differentiate between Hispanic and non-Hispanic people.

(snip)