Paid brokers tout ties to Trump's orbit to lobby for presidential pardons, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pardon-economy-60-minutes-transcript/)

This 60 Minutes investigative report by Lesley Stahl focuses on the emergence of a lucrative “pardon economy,” where paid lobbyists, lawyers, and political operatives charge hundreds of thousandsor even millionsof dollars promising convicted felons backchannel access to President Donald Trump to secure presidential pardons.Key points covered in the report include:

• Bypassing the Department of Justice: Historically, clemency petitions go through the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, which screens for remorse and rehabilitation. According to the investigation, roughly 70% of Trump’s clemency grants (rising to 92% when including January 6 rioters) have bypassed the DOJ process, leaving around 16,000 conventional applicants waiting.
• Undercover Sting with Pardon Brokers: 60 Minutes worked with Ammon Covino, a convicted wildlife trafficker whose standard DOJ pardon petition had been rejected. Wearing hidden cameras, Covino met with conservative operatives Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl. The pair pitched their services for $300,000, claiming they could apply direct pressure on the president through political allies, influencers, and access at Mar-a-Lago fundraisers rather than going through official channels.
• The “Weaponization” Pitch: Legal experts and brokers noted that remorse is no longer the primary requirement. Instead, successful petitions often mirror Trump’s personal grievances, arguing that applicants were victims of an unfair or “weaponized” justice system.
• Cost and Broken Promises: While some brokers command fees between $300,000 and $3 million, these promises do not always succeed. For example, rapper Boosie Badazz recounted paying Burkman and Wohl $600,000 upfront for a pardon that never materialized; he has since filed a lawsuit to recover his money.
• Questions of Pay-to-Play: The segment highlighted instances where clemency decisions closely aligned with political donations, business arrangements, or attendance at high-dollar fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago.
• Responses from Key Figures:
  • The Brokers: Wohl and Burkman defended their actions, arguing that high-priced lobbying and advocacy for wealthy clients is standard practice in Washington.
  • The DOJ: Ed Martin, who previously led the DOJ’s pardon office, denied any knowledge of a pay-to-play system and labeled brokers making such promises as “snake oil salesmen.”
  • The White House: The White House dismissed the brokers, stating that anyone paying intermediaries to lobby for pardons is “foolishly wasting their money,” and maintained that the president exercises his constitutional pardon powers strictly and ethically.