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US probes possible ‘bribe for presidential pardon’ scheme

  • Alleged bribery scheme involved campaign donations to secure a presidential pardon, court document shows
  • US presidents enjoy wide latitude under the US Constitution in pardoning people convicted of federal crimes

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The US Justice Department is investigating a potential crime related to funnelling money to the White House in exchange for a presidential pardon. Photo: Reuters

US prosecutors are investigating whether a group of conspirators offered political contributions in exchange for a presidential pardon, according to an unsealed court document.

The names of the people under investigation were blacked out in the document and there is no mention of President Donald Trump – who has the sole and largely unlimited power to grant a pardon for federal crimes – in the non-redacted portions of the filing.

The partially redacted opinion unsealed on Tuesday by US District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington said the Justice Department was investigating a “bribery conspiracy” in which an unnamed conspirator would “offer a substantial political contribution in exchange for a presidential pardon or reprieve of sentence”.

The US Justice Department alleges that two suspects acted in a “secret lobbying scheme” to persuade senior White House officials to secure a pardon without registering as lobbyists.

US President Donald Trump has largely unlimited power to grant a pardon. Photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump has largely unlimited power to grant a pardon. Photo: Reuters

The opinion, dated August 28, was in response to a government request to review lawyer-client communications related to the probe.

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