The Al Franken Podcast Lawyer Liz Oyer on Trump’s Corrupt Pardons
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Nov 23, 2025 
Liz Oyer, former U.S. pardon attorney, sheds light on the controversial pardons from Trump's second term, revealing how many were driven by money and loyalty. She describes the blanket pardons for January 6th rioters and brands the pardon of cryptocurrency mogul Changpeng Zhao as potentially the most corrupt in U.S. history. Oyer critiques the current pardon attorney's extreme political stance and expresses concern about the lack of transparency and favoritism in the pardoning process, especially regarding high-profile cases.
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January 6 Pardons Bypassed Vetting
- Trump pardoned many January 6 defendants without DOJ consultation and some received commutations.
- Oyer learned of mass pardons via news alerts and says traditional vetting was ignored.
Ed Martin's Political Pardon Operation
- Ed Martin, a political operative and election denier, now leads the pardon office and promotes 'No MAGA left behind.'
- Oyer says Martin mixes pardons with politically motivated prosecutions as a 'weaponization' role.
Federal Pardons Don't Cover State Crimes
- Presidential pardons cannot legally erase state crimes, so mass political pardons may lack effect.
- Oyer says some pardons are symbolic messages to supporters rather than legally impactful acts.
