President Donald Trump this month rejected nearly 6,000 clemency petitions, predominantly from applicants without political connections who had awaited review through established channels, while granting pardons and commutations primarily to allies and donors. This outcome followed earlier speculation within the administration that Trump might mark the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence by issuing up to 250 clemency grants, a plan that ultimately did not materialize.

On July 3, the president issued fewer than 20 pardons, which included individuals convicted of Clean Air Act violations and a political donor. However, thousands of other applicants seeking relief were effectively denied, as revealed in a July 14 letter from Ed Martin, the U.S. pardon attorney, to federal prosecutors nationwide. The letter, dated July 14 but signaling action taken as early as July 10, advised that the Justice Department had begun issuing rejections of clemency requests. It referenced legal provisions enabling the president to either actively reject applications or allow recommendations for denial from the attorney general to proceed without presidential intervention. The letter did not clarify whether Trump personally reviewed the denied petitions.

A White House official, speaking anonymously, dismissed the notion there was ever a concrete plan to grant 250 pardons for Independence Day, describing it as a tentative staff idea. The official emphasized that Trump retains sole authority for all clemency decisions.

Concurrently, Martin’s office published online lists naming over 300 individuals denied pardons and more than 5,600 denied commutations as of July 10 this year. By comparison, earlier in January, roughly 530 applications were rejected according to official records.

While presidents hold broad constitutional authority to grant pardons, which erase nearly all consequences of federal convictions, and commutations, which reduce or eliminate prison sentences, batch denials are not uncommon. Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., in his final days in office, similarly denied nearly 6,000 pardons while granting thousands of commutations, often to nonviolent offenders who met Justice Department-established criteria, including demonstrated remorse and low risk of reoffending.

In contrast, Trump’s clemency approach has largely circumvented traditional vetting procedures. His grants have frequently favored political allies and supporters, such as approximately 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack, as well as persons able to afford high-profile legal representation and lobbying. Trump has publicly rejected allegations that pardons are being brokered for profit.

Earlier this year, Trump’s team indicated an intent to issue clemency to less connected individuals as part of the semicentennial celebrations. Alice Marie Johnson, the White House pardon coordinator, solicited nominations from university clemency clinics in late May, encouraging submissions from any interested parties. For example, the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis forwarded more than 15 applications, four of which were included in the recent rejections; the rest remain under consideration.

Mark Osler, a law professor at St. Thomas, expressed disappointment at the outcomes, stating that many applicants who had adhered to the rules, shown leadership in prison, and engaged extensively in rehabilitative programs appeared to receive insufficient consideration. “It’s very discouraging,” he said, highlighting concerns about the fairness of the clemency review process under the current administration.