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Corruption & Accountability · Report · File No. 261111-936

Democrats unveil bill on Trump-linked pardons; legal experts say it likely hits limits

Reps. Mike Levin and Jason Crow introduced a bill to investigate pardons that may involve conflicts of interest. Three legal experts told CBS News that key parts would likely collide with the president's constitutional pardon power.

By the Investigations Desk · · 3 min read

Every quote in this story (2) was matched word for word against its source. How we work

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Mike Levin
Mike Levin. Photo: U.S. House of Representatives, Public domain

House Democrats who lead the "End Corruption Caucus" introduced a bill on Wednesday to rein in what they call a "pardon economy" in President Trump's second term. Reps. Mike Levin of California and Jason Crow of Colorado unveiled the Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act, CBS News reported 1. It targets acts of clemency that raise possible conflicts of interest or could involve favors for the president's allies and donors 1.

The caucus launched in May 2026. Levin, Crow and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York lead it 2.

What the bill would do

The bill would direct the Justice Department's inspector general to investigate pardons that raise potential conflicts of interest 1. The inspector general is the department's internal watchdog. The bill would also make explicit that the president and vice president can be prosecuted for trading pardons for something of value 1.

Pardon recipients would have to disclose gifts to projects tied to the president, such as his library or the White House ballroom 1. The bill would also ban self-pardons. Mr. Trump told "60 Minutes" this month that he believes he has that power, though he said he doesn't expect to use it 1.

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Levin pointed to Mr. Trump's pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to failing to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program 1. He also cited reports that Alina Habba Mildon, while a Justice Department adviser, struck a deal with the family of a Venezuelan billionaire who was pardoned weeks later 1. Habba Mildon has denied any role in the pardon 1.

Mike Levin
That is not how the Founders intended for this to work
Mike Levin, U.S. Representative, D-Calif.1

The White House and the legal experts

A CBS News investigation found wealthy defendants have hired lobbyists and lawyers tied to Mr. Trump to press their cases with the White House 1. About 70% of his second-term clemency actions have bypassed the Justice Department's pardon office. The figure is 92% if Jan. 6 defendants are counted 1.

The White House says there is "a robust pardon review process" that includes the White House counsel, the Justice Department, pardon czar Alice Johnson, and Mr. Trump "as the final decider" 1. White House Counsel Will Scharf said Mr. Trump carries out his duties "in an ethically sound manner" 1.

The bill faces long odds. CBS reported it stands almost no chance of surviving Mr. Trump's veto pen 1. Three legal experts also said key parts would likely run up against the president's constitutional pardon power 1.

The constitutional remedy for the misuse of the pardon power is impeachment and removal
Samuel Morison, former Justice Department pardon attorney-adviser1

Josh Blackman of South Texas College of Law Houston said the bill's conflict-of-interest standard is so broad it could make almost any controversial pardon the subject of a criminal investigation. That would include Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter 1. Brian Kalt of Michigan State University called the self-pardon ban "purely symbolic" 1.

What happens next

Democrats won sweeping midterm wins and take control of the House in January. The bill offers an early look at how they may scrutinize the president's use of the pardon power 1. Levin said Democrats will use "our power of the purse" to ensure independent investigation of every department 1.

The pattern is a familiar one. The Constitution gives the president broad pardon power, and the experts said the remedy for misuse is impeachment, not a statute 1. That matters for readers who want accountability. The bill may be less a law in the making than a marker for the oversight fights ahead.

The Record

  1. Levin, Crow and Ocasio-Cortez launch the End Corruption Caucus 2.
  2. Levin and Crow unveil the Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act 1.
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Sources

  1. CBS News, “Congressional Democrats target Trump's "pardon industrial complex"” (2026-11-11). cbsnews.com/news/democrats-congress-trump-pardon-industrial-
  2. Rep. Mike Levin's office, “Reps. Mike Levin, Jason Crow, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Launch End Corruption Caucus” (2026-05-27). levin.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mike-levin-jason-c

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