### President Trump Issues Pardons to Former Politicians Amid Clemency Surge

In a recent wave of presidential pardons, President Donald Trump has granted clemency to two former high-profile politicians: a New York congressman and a Connecticut governor. This surge of pardons also includes reality TV stars and notable law enforcement officials.

Trump exercised his presidential powers to pardon former Rep. Michael Grimm of New York and former Gov. John Rowland of Connecticut. Grimm, who served in Congress from 2011 to 2015, had been known for his combative interactions with the media. His political career was interrupted when he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, specifically for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and hiding more than $900,000 in gross income. Grimm spent seven months in prison and attempted, yet failed, to make a political comeback in 2018.

Rowland, the governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004, faced convictions in two separate federal cases, the first of which led to his resignation. In 2015, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his illegal involvement in two congressional campaigns. His pardons came amid other controversial clemency decisions from President Trump.

Monday's announcement also included a planned pardon for Todd and Julie Chrisley, famed for their reality TV show which ran for ten seasons on the USA Network before their conviction on fraud charges. Additionally, Trump mentioned the consideration of pardons for individuals involved in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The clemency spree follows the recent appointment of Ed Martin as the Justice Department’s new pardon attorney. Martin had previously been nominated as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia but faced significant Senate opposition, leading to the withdrawal of his nomination.