During PR visit, Blanche defends Trump’s expansive use of pardons
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
US attorney general says president acts alone on clemency decisions
By EVA LAUREANO
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday defended President Donald Trump’s sweeping use of presidential pardons, insisting that the president exercises the constitutional power independently and does not seek his approval or guidance, even as Trump’s second‑term clemency record faces mounting criticism for its scale, beneficiaries and political overtones.
Blanche, who visited Puerto Rico to highlight federal anti‑drug operations and support the U.S. Attorney’s Office following an 81‑person indictment, was asked directly whether Trump consults him before issuing pardons. Blanche responded unequivocally.
“President Trump has a right and indeed an obligation under the Constitution of the United States to determine whether a pardon is appropriate,” he said. “He doesn’t need my permission, my clearance, or my views when deciding whether to issue a pardon.”
Blanche added that he does not discuss pardons with the president and would not disclose any privileged communications.
“I would never talk about communications I have with President Trump because they’re privileged,” he said.
His comments come amid intensifying scrutiny of Trump’s second‑term pardons, which analysts say have reached unprecedented levels. According to former U.S. pardon attorney Liz Oyer, Trump has forgiven more than $1.5 billion in criminal debts, far exceeding the roughly $680,000 in financial penalties eliminated by President Joe Biden.
The pardons have included disgraced politicians, corporate entities and individuals convicted of large‑scale fraud. Trump issued the first presidential pardon to a corporation, HDR Global Trading Ltd., and erased $660 million in restitution owed by Trevor Milton, who had donated $1.8 million to Trump’s campaign -- a move a Cato Institute analysis described as “an impressive ROI,” or return on investment.
Critics argue that the pattern suggests transactional or politically motivated clemency. The analysis cites cases in which individuals or their families raised substantial funds for MAGA causes before receiving pardons. In one instance, Trump publicly complained about a Texas congressman’s “lack of LOYALTY” after the lawmaker did not switch parties following a pardon.
Blanche rejected the notion that Trump’s pardons undermine federal prosecutions, even as reporters pointed to cases where individuals were pardoned shortly after being sentenced by Trump’s own Justice Department.
“The president takes his own counsel,” Blanche said, emphasizing that the Office of the Pardon Attorney does not constrain Trump’s decisions.
During the press conference, Blanche focused heavily on federal anti‑drug efforts, describing Puerto Rico as a critical corridor for narcotics entering the mainland.
“Most of the drugs that come into Puerto Rico do not stay here,” he said. “Eighty percent ends up going to the United States and Canada.”
He also acknowledged the challenge of inspecting container ships traveling between Puerto Rico and mainland ports, noting that cocaine is often loaded mid‑route.
Blanche dismissed questions about whether Trump attorney Christopher Kyes had contacted him regarding a Puerto Rico‑based financial case, saying he had not spoken with Kyes and reiterating that defense counsel cannot appeal directly to him.
The broader controversy surrounding Trump’s pardons continues to grow, with analysts warning that normalizing clemency for political allies, donors, or individuals involved in election‑related offenses could erode public trust and strain constitutional norms. As the Cato analysis concludes: “Today, however, the evidence is piling up that, for this president, corruption is the rule, not the exception.”
Blanche did not address those criticisms directly, instead framing Trump’s pardon power as absolute and historically grounded.
“That’s exactly what every president has done and what President Trump has done,” he said.
Comments