A White House spokesperson has rejected claims that former President Donald Trump’s administration may have been swayed by so-called ‘pardon brokers’, a matter explored by CBS’ ’60 Minutes’. During the program’s season debut, the long-running news show aired a segment focusing on lobbyists allegedly negotiating presidential pardons for clients with potential connections to the president.

Lesley Stahl, a correspondent for ’60 Minutes’, highlighted the history of presidential pardons, stating, “Presidents have been pardoning criminals since George Washington. It’s a constitutional power. No explanation needed.” She explained that while the Department of Justice screens applicants and usually recommends those who seek mercy genuinely, this is not always the case. Examples such as President Ford pardoning Richard Nixon and President Clinton’s pardon following donations were noted. She added, “President Biden, his son Hunter, and Anthony Fauci.”

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The segment described the activities of ‘pardon brokers’, who allegedly lobby for presidential pardons by capitalizing on their connections with the president. Stahl commented, “President Trump has developed his own vetting system, pardoning political allies, including all of the January 6 rioters, as well as a string of unrepentant financial conmen who argued, like him, that they were wrongly prosecuted.” She noted that donations might facilitate getting grievances heard, with individuals employing pardon brokers, lawyers, and lobbyists who leverage their connections for hefty fees. Stahl referred to “a marketplace of money and mercy.”

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis refuted claims in a statement to Fox News Digital, denying Trump’s decision-making was influenced by lobbyists concerning presidential pardons. She criticized previous decisions by former President Joe Biden, pointing to violent criminals that had been pardoned.

Bis stated, “Anyone spending money to lobby for pardons is foolishly wasting their money and the President doesn’t even know who these so-called ‘lobbyists’ are. The Trump Administration has a robust pardon review process which includes White House counsel, the Department of Justice, pardon czar Alice Johnson, and ultimately, the President himself as the final decider.”

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Lauren Bis directed criticism at former President Joe Biden’s pardons, asserting, “The only pardons anyone should be critical of are from President Biden, who pardoned and commuted sentences of violent criminals including child killers and mass murderers, and extreme liberal Democrat Governors who pardoned illegal alien child rapists and attempted murderers in attempts to allow them to remain in our country.”

Fox News Digital reached out to CBS News for a response but did not immediately receive any.

The season premiere of ’60 Minutes’ occurs as the network’s editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, restructures the program, leading to mass layoffs of veteran producers and correspondents. Former producer and managing editor, Guy Campanile, suggested in a private Facebook post that the dismissals were linked to their refusal to align with “White House talking points.”

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Previous allegations from former employees accused ’60 Minutes’ of aligning with “White House talking points.” Campanile stated, “We would not compromise our principles or reputations by jamming unverifiable notions or White House talking points into our reporting.” He emphasized their commitment to conducting interviews independently and challenging business and political leaders.

Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be directed to [email protected] and on Twitter: @lmkornick.