Trump Expands Pardon Powers in Second Term

President focuses on delivering 'mercy' to 'forgotten men and women' and victims of government overreach

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In his second term, President Donald Trump has been actively using his pardon powers to deliver what his pardon attorney Ed Martin calls 'Trump Mercy' to a wide range of individuals, from January 6 protesters to former government officials and businessmen. The president's vision, as outlined in a memo from Martin, is to provide relief to those he sees as having been targeted or left behind by past administrations.

Why it matters

Trump's aggressive use of the pardon power represents a significant shift from past presidents, who have tended to be more cautious. The president is framing his pardons as a way to help the 'forgotten men and women' of America and challenge what he sees as government overreach and injustice.

The details

According to the memo from pardon attorney Ed Martin, Trump has issued pardons for a wide range of individuals, including the January 6 protesters, Ross Ulbricht, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, and Hunter Biden's former business partners. The president has also established a 'Firearms Rights Restoration Program' to allow felons to regain their Second Amendment rights.

  • In late 2025, pardon attorney Ed Martin prepared a memo for President Trump outlining his pardon actions.
  • In his 2024 Republican National Convention address, Trump dedicated the party platform to the 'forgotten men and women of America'.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th and current President of the United States, serving his second term.

Ed Martin

The U.S. Pardon Attorney, a longtime conservative activist who has helped shape Trump's vision for using the pardon power.

Phyllis Schlafly

The late founder of the Eagle Forum, who endorsed Trump during the 2016 presidential primary despite opposition from some conservatives.

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What they’re saying

“When I started as U.S. Pardon Attorney, President Trump mentioned two areas for priority. First, he told me there are many men and women in America who deserve a second chance after making a mistake. He wants us to find them. My colleague, Pardon Czar Alice Johnson, is one of these deserving Americans and helps us find more. The second priority group is those who have been victimized by prosecutors and the government.”

— Ed Martin, U.S. Pardon Attorney (Breitbart News)

“President Trump starts from a love of people and his positive impulse to deliver mercy. Biden's use was crass, even dirty. For example, he used the autopen and broad grants of commutation to give thousands of people pardons or clemency. To this day, we are unsure what Biden intended and we have had to review the actions.”

— Ed Martin, U.S. Pardon Attorney (Breitbart News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Trump's expansive use of the pardon power represents a significant shift from past presidents, as he seeks to deliver 'mercy' to those he sees as having been unfairly targeted or left behind, including January 6 protesters, former government officials, and businessmen. This approach has drawn both praise and criticism, and will likely continue to be a focus of his second term.