President Donald Trump’s pardons of the Jan. 6 defendants and two D.C. police officers convicted in the death of Karon Hylton-Brown have many people asking questions about the president’s pardon power.
A law professor who specializes in pardons explains the president’s unique power to intervene in local D.C. criminal prosecutions.
In his first hours back in office, Trump issued pardons to hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants, many who were convicted of attacking police officers during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Trump also extended his pardon power to two Metropolitan Police Department officers who had been convicted in the death of Karon Hylton-Brown.
While the Jan. 6 defendants were charged with federal crimes, the two MPD officers were charged with local crimes.
“Article II of the Constitution gives the president of the United States the power to pardon offenses against the United States government, meaning federal offenses, but also, it turns out the president does have the pardon authority over District of Columbia offenses as well, given the novel nature of D.C.,” said Kimberly Wehle, author of “Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works — and Why.”
Because most crimes in D.C. are prosecuted by the U.S. attorney, Wehle explains, the president has power in D.C. he doesn’t have elsewhere, whether the cases are brought in federal court or D.C. Superior Court.
“Given the unique nature of the District of Columbia, but there’s no other part of the country where he would be able to pardon a state crime,” Wehle said.
While reporters have asked the president about the reasons for the pardons, Wehle says the public rarely gets specific details.
“So not only is there no limits or oversight on the president’s ability to pardon, but there’s like a confidentiality lock on the information that the president has exclusive discretion whether to disclose it to the public,” she said.
As for how someone gets a pardon, and how they qualify: “There’s an application online on the Department of Justice website,” Wehle said. “And there are criteria, including that you have to have served your sentence and waited five years to be eligible, which of course is not what happened with the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. In addition, there’s a number of criteria. Two that are prominent are, you have to demonstrate remorse and accountability for the crime, and you can’t be violent. Those are generally disqualifying by the office of the pardon attorney in the Justice Department. But, of course, the president is not bound by those recommendations.”
About 10,000 people will apply for pardons during a president’s term, she said.
Once someone receives a pardon, rights such as the ability to buy a gun and to vote are restored. A person can refuse a pardon, as we have seen with one of the Jan. 6 defendants, she said.
It’s not just Trump who’s made headlines for issuing pardons. Former President Joe Biden has received backlash for pardoning his son Hunter in connection with his felony gun and tax convictions — a decision Biden made after previously stating he would not. Then, during his final hours in office, Biden also pardoned several people including Dr. Anthony Fauci, members of the Jan. 6 committee and members of the Biden family.
The 2026 USU Summer Meeting is a premier convening for presidents and chancellors of public, urban-serving research institutions who are often at the forefront of innovation within higher education. This meeting will be hosted in downtown Washington, DC on June 16, 2026, from 12:00 – 4:45 pm, in association with APLU’s Council of Presidents summer convening.
Please direct any questions to usucoalition@aplu.org.
Dechert Law have boosted their Washington DC practice with the addition of three former White & Case lawyers with significant litigation experience in everything from government contracts to sports law.
The firm’s media statement making the announcement is below –
Dechert LLP continues to build on the momentum of its expanding litigation practice with the additions of Tara Lee, Scott Lerner and Melissa Taylormoore (pictured above). Their arrival bolsters the firm’s trial bench and significantly enhances the sports and gaming and government contracts practices. All three will be based in Dechert’s Washington, D.C. office and will be partners in the firm’s enforcement and investigations group.
“This year has been a defining one for Dechert’s growth, and the arrival of Tara, Scott and Melissa exemplifies our commitment to expanding our teams in service of our clients’ businesses,” said Dave Forti, co-chair of Dechert. “As we continue to welcome exceptional talent across our steeples of excellence, from investment management to litigation, additions like these are what elevate our platform to the next level.”
The three partners join Dechert from an international law firm, where Ms. Lee headed the trials practice, Mr. Lerner headed the U.S. sports and gaming practice and Ms. Taylormoore was the global head of the U.S. government contracts practice and co-chair of the defense working group.
“Joining Dechert has coincided with a period of growth for the firm, spanning both new geographies and sectors of the market. The firm has recently opened three new offices and complemented existing strengths while expanding its offerings. The arrivals of Tara, Scott and Melissa further deepen our government contracts and sports and gaming capabilities,” said Mike Poulos, vice chair and global head of strategy. “Tara’s arrival is especially meaningful to me, as she and I served together in leadership at a prior firm, and I am glad to be reunited with her at Dechert.”
Ms. Lee has a broad practice spanning complex commercial litigation, wrongful death and mass tort matters, arbitration enforcement, and corporate investigations. She has represented multinational companies, sovereign nations, public and private companies, funds and individuals across a broad range of industries. In 2017, Ms. Lee was named U.S. Trial Lawyer of the Year and is consistently ranked among leading litigation lawyers by Chambers USA. She has been recognized as a Pioneer and Trailblazer in Litigation by the National Law Journal, as one of the Ten Most Innovative Lawyers in the United States by the Financial Times and as one of the top investigations lawyers by Global Investigations Review. Prior to her legal career, she served as an officer in the United States Navy and was named the ATLA Outstanding Military Trial Lawyer while serving in the Navy JAG Corps.
“I am delighted to join Dechert alongside Scott and Melissa,” said Ms. Lee. “The firm’s commitment to this space, the quality of its people, and the strength of its client base made this a compelling opportunity, and we look forward to working on the most complex and consequential matters for clients.”
Mr. Lerner is a trial lawyer with significant experience in sports- and gaming-related disputes and a focus on complex commercial litigation, class actions, investigations and corporate crises. He regularly advises clients across the sports and gaming industries, including professional athletes and coaches, sports franchises, team owners, event organizers, sports charities, unions and online sports betting companies.
Ms. Taylormoore brings more than two decades of experience advising clients on government contracting and regulatory matters involving federal, state and local governments, including matters involving national security, defense, aerospace and dual-use technologies. She leads sensitive internal and cross-border investigations and advises boards and executive teams on governance, remediation and crisis response.
Ms. Lee, Mr. Lerner and Ms. Taylormoore are among more than 35 lateral partners Dechert has welcomed this year, reflecting the firm’s strategic goal of strengthening capabilities across its steeples of excellence in litigation, investment management, finance and restructuring, capital markets and securitization and mergers and acquisitions.
Dechert litigators win some of the largest and most complex, domestic and multijurisdictional disputes in the world. The firm’s global litigation practice is comprised of more than 350 lawyers across multiple offices, combining the knowledge and capabilities of former law clerks and government officials, experienced litigators and homegrown talent.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 18: Zac Brown Band perform onstage during the Uber One Rodeo on October 18, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Uber)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The heavyweight headliner for the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest this summer has officially been announced.
What we know:
Zac Brown Band will take the stage at The Ellipse, which is just south of the White House, on Saturday, June 13, at 9:30 p.m.
The free event will also include live shows with UFC athletes, celebrity appearances, meet-&-greets, immersive fan experiences and the UFC Freedom 250 Ceremonial Weigh-in. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m.
On Sunday, fans will gather once again at The Ellipse for a watch party as a series of fights take place in the Octagon on the South Lawn.
What you can do:
Tickets for UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest are available on Tuesday, April 21. However, fans can register for early access until Thursday, and will receive a link on Friday.
Dig deeper:
President Donald Trump is set to oversee the event as part of festivities marking the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.
The fight card for the landmark event was revealed last month, with lightweight champions Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje announced as the main event for a title unification bout.
The Source: Information from this article was provided by UFC.
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