Cleaning the Slate
President Donald Trump is ending the week with a major flex of executive power.
In a move disclosed by officials on Friday, the President issued a slew of new clemency grants. The list includes 21 individuals, with nine set to be released immediately. But two names on that list are raising eyebrows across Washington and beyond.
The “Double Dip” Pardon
For Adriana Camberos, lightning just struck twice.
Trump granted a full pardon to Camberos and her brother, Andres, erasing their 2024 convictions. The pair had been found guilty of a scheme involving deception in the resale of wholesale groceries.
This isn’t Camberos’ first time benefiting from Trump’s mercy.
During his first term in 2021, Trump commuted her sentence for a completely different fraud case involving counterfeit 5-Hour Energy drinks. The White House is defending the move, claiming the family was “unfairly targeted” by the Biden administration specifically because she had received clemency before.
“Ms. Camberos was wrongfully convicted,” her attorney Marcus S. Bourassa said in a statement. “She’s home now and very grateful.”
Political Favors in Puerto Rico?
The pardon list also includes high-profile political figures. Trump intends to pardon former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez, who pleaded guilty to a campaign finance violation just last summer.
Vázquez was facing potential jail time alongside two co-defendants: Julio Herrera Velutini, an international bank owner, and Mark Rossini, a former FBI agent.
The backstory reads like a crime thriller.
Federal prosecutors alleged that from late 2019 to mid-2020, the trio conspired to finance Vázquez’s gubernatorial campaign. The catch? In exchange for the funding, Vázquez allegedly agreed to replace the island’s top bank regulator with someone hand-picked by the bank owner. At the time, that bank was under examination by regulators.
While they eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in August, the connections run deep.
Follow the Money
This is where things get interesting. According to campaign finance filings, Julio Herrera’s daughter, Isabela Herrera, has donated millions of dollars to Trump-related political entities.
The White House insists the charges against Vázquez were politically motivated from the start. Officials point to the timeline as proof, noting the investigation launched just 10 days after she endorsed Trump in 2020. They argue there was never any “quid pro quo” or bribery involved.
The “Pardon Czar” Weighs In
Alice Marie Johnson, now serving as the White House “Pardon Czar,” took to social media to celebrate the decisions. She confirmed that mercy was extended to “21 deserving individuals,” many of whom were serving time for drug-related offenses.
With the stroke of a pen, convictions are erased, prisoners are freed, and the political landscape shifts once again.