Trump Pardons NBA YoungBoy, Grimm, Hoover, Rowland \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump issued a sweeping new round of pardons, including for rapper NBA YoungBoy, ex-Governor John Rowland, and former Rep. Michael Grimm. The list also included union leader James Callahan and gang leader Larry Hoover. The clemency spree was overseen in part by Trump’s pardon advisor, Alice Marie Johnson.
Quick Looks
- Trump pardons rapper NBA YoungBoy, former Rep. Michael Grimm, and ex-Gov. John Rowland.
- Alice Marie Johnson, named Trump’s pardon czar, played a key role.
- NBA YoungBoy was serving time for gun and drug fraud charges.
- Johnson previously received Trump’s pardon in 2020 and has since advised on clemency.
- Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley also pardoned earlier in the week.
- Larry Hoover’s federal life sentence was commuted after nearly 30 years in supermax prison.
- Grimm, who resigned from Congress over tax fraud, was paralyzed in a 2023 accident.
- Trump also pardoned a union boss and a former Army lieutenant over a COVID violation.
- Johnson and Trump were seen calling the Chrisleys’ daughter with news of their pardon.
- Trump’s clemency decisions continue to mix political ties with pop culture support.
Deep Look
Trump Grants Series of High-Profile Pardons Spanning Politics, Entertainment, and Criminal Justice Reform
President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping new set of pardons and commutations, extending clemency to a varied group of individuals that includes political figures, entertainers, and former offenders tied to controversial criminal cases. The latest round—announced Wednesday by White House insiders—underscores Trump’s signature blend of political loyalty, celebrity influence, and headline-making decisions.
The rollout, not yet formally announced by the administration, was confirmed by two senior White House officials and comes amid heightened media focus on the former president’s exercise of executive clemency as he returns to the campaign trail.
At the center of the clemency effort is Alice Marie Johnson, who was pardoned by Trump in 2020 after her case was brought forward by Kim Kardashian West. Convicted in the 1990s on federal drug trafficking charges, Johnson has since become a key Trump ally and was named his official “pardon czar”. She now plays a hands-on role in reviewing and recommending cases for presidential clemency.
Rapper NBA YoungBoy Among Those Pardoned
One of the most high-profile recipients of Trump’s latest clemency wave is Louisiana-born rapper NBA YoungBoy, born Kentrell Gaulden. The 24-year-old artist had been serving a sentence just under two years for firearms possession as a convicted felon and his involvement in a prescription drug fraud scheme in Utah. Gaulden, a chart-topping artist known for his emotionally raw lyrics and legal troubles, thanked Trump and Johnson in a statement posted online.
“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon,” Gaulden wrote, “and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist.”
The decision was met with mixed reactions online, with supporters hailing it as an act of redemption and others questioning the precedent it sets.
Trump Also Grants Clemency to Political Allies
In keeping with previous clemency actions, several pardons went to Republican politicians and donors. Among them:
- John Rowland, the former Republican governor of Connecticut, who served jail time for hiding his role in federal campaigns. Rowland was convicted in 2014 and had long sought a pardon to clear his name.
- Michael Grimm, the ex-New York congressman who resigned after pleading guilty to tax fraud. Grimm served time in prison and recently suffered a tragic accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down after falling from a horse during a polo match.
Trump also pardoned James Callahan, a New York-based union leader who had pleaded guilty to failing to report $315,000 in gifts from an advertising firm. Callahan was due to be sentenced but will now walk free.
Todd and Julie Chrisley Also Pardoned
Earlier in the week, Trump pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, stars of the reality show Chrisley Knows Best, who had been convicted of defrauding banks out of $30 million using false loan applications. The couple’s case became a flashpoint in conservative media, with daughter Savannah Chrisley speaking at the Republican National Convention in 2024 and claiming the charges were politically motivated.
In a White House-released video, Trump and Johnson were seen in the Oval Office calling Savannah to deliver the news personally, further emphasizing the role of celebrity and emotion in Trump’s clemency calculus.
Gang Leader and Army Officer Also Included
In another dramatic move, Trump commuted the federal life sentence of Larry Hoover, the former Chicago gang leader who founded the Gangster Disciples. Hoover, convicted of orchestrating murder and running a criminal enterprise, had spent nearly 30 years in solitary confinement at ADX Florence. Though Hoover’s state sentence remains active, the federal commutation marked a significant shift and was praised by prison reform advocates.
Also pardoned was Army Lt. Mark Bradshaw, who had been convicted in 2022 of failing to undergo a COVID-19 test before reporting to duty. The case, minor in legal scope, was highlighted by conservative media as an example of pandemic-era government overreach.
Trump’s Pattern: Power, Pop Culture, and Political Payback
The pardons reflect Trump’s signature approach to executive clemency, favoring individuals with media attention, political connections, or loyal followings. They also demonstrate Trump’s willingness to blend criminal justice reform with populist optics and conservative talking points, delivering acts of mercy often seen as bypassing traditional Department of Justice review procedures.
With Alice Marie Johnson at his side, Trump has framed these clemency decisions as moral acts of second chances and redemption, bolstering his support among both criminal justice reform advocates and cultural influencers.
Conclusion: Pardons as Politics and Narrative
As Trump eyes another term in office, his clemency decisions continue to spark debate over executive power, fairness, and the influence of celebrity in American justice. This latest round, spanning ex-governors, rappers, gang leaders, and reality TV stars, is as much about narrative control as it is about legal relief.
Whether viewed as bold acts of compassion or calculated political maneuvers, the pardons reaffirm Trump’s unique and often unpredictable approach to power—and suggest that, for better or worse, his brand of justice is very much here to stay.
Trump Pardons NBA
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