WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 defendants involved in the January 6 Capitol attack hours after he was sworn in for a second term. More than 50 of the pardons and commutations he has made in his second term are for fraud.

Dozens of other pardons followed, involving political figures, business leaders, and people with personal connections to the president or his allies. White-collar offenses such as money laundering, bank fraud, and wire fraud are among the most frequent crimes he has pardoned in his second term.

Lobbyists have worked to facilitate access to the administration for presidential pardons, earning millions in fees. In the first year of Trump's second term, lobbying fees disclosed for pardon-related or clemency-related lobbying efforts amounted to $5.2 million. This amount was eight times higher than in the final year of the Biden administration.

"President Trump exercises his constitutional authority to issue pardons and commutations at his discretion. Anyone spending money to lobby for pardons is foolishly wasting their money," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.