Trump pardons under fire as nearly 100 reoffend

Nearly 100 people pardoned by Donald Trump have since been arrested, charged or convicted of unrelated crimes, according to an analysis cited by Lawfare. The cases are putting fresh scrutiny on the sweeping clemency powers used by the US president.

One of the latest is Jon Ponder, a former bank robber whose transformation into a prison-reform campaigner was once hailed by Trump as an example of redemption.

Trump once called Ponder an inspiration — now he faces 20 charges

Ponder, 60, was pardoned by Trump in 2020 after serving a sentence for bank robbery and founding HOPE for Prisoners, a Nevada organisation helping inmates prepare for release.

He now faces 20 charges after at least four women accused him of exploiting his position to solicit sex and make inappropriate advances while they were incarcerated. The allegations include sexual assault, unauthorised custodial contact and attempted coercion.

Police also reportedly found 1.3 grams of methamphetamine at Ponder’s home after he refused to leave while investigators attempted to search the property.

Jan 6 pardons fuel a wider clemency controversy

Ponder is among a growing number of Trump pardon recipients to face fresh criminal proceedings. At least 97 people pardoned over the January 6 Capitol attack have subsequently been arrested, charged with or convicted of separate crimes, according to Lawfare.

Some cases are particularly serious. Andrew Paul Johnson, a pardoned January 6 rioter, was sentenced to life in prison for molesting two children, while Daniel Tocci received four years for possessing more than 110,000 child sexual abuse images.

Lawfare identified at least five cases where the pardons may have directly enabled later alleged crimes by releasing people who would otherwise still have been imprisoned.

Andrew Paul Johnson,

The pardon power faces renewed scrutiny

The US Constitution gives presidents broad authority to grant pardons. Trump has used that power extensively across both his terms, including issuing sweeping clemency to people convicted over the January 6 attack.

Ponder’s case is particularly striking because Trump once presented him as proof that former offenders could rebuild their lives. Less than six years after the pardon, Ponder was banned from Nevada state prison property and is now facing serious allegations that could place his rehabilitation story under renewed scrutiny.

Nearly 100 criminals pardoned by Trump have been arrested again