President Donald Trump has granted pardons to a wide range of his political allies for their roles or alleged involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, this according to Ed Martin, the Department of Justice’s Pardon Attorney.
The list, shared in a proclamation posted by Martin on X on November 9, includes prominent figures such as Trump’s former lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, as well as his former chief of staff Mark Meadows, along with dozens of others.
The Constitution of the United States gives presidents the power to grant pardons. Thousands of pardons have been granted throughout history, and some caused public outrage. From family members to fellow politicians and serious offenders, American presidents have exercised their power to grant pardons without the possibility of being challenged by Congress or the courts.
But what were the most controversial presidential pardons in US history? Click through the following gallery to find out.