How pardon brokers determine their prices | 60 Minutes
In a Nutshell
Pardon brokers charge $300K–$1M based on case difficulty, criminal history, and opportunity cost; most of the fee is profit, with a small portion covering event access rather than political donations. They bypass the DOJ process entirely, instead running a lobbying-style advocacy campaign that involves talking to hundreds of contacts weekly to push clients to the top of the presidential clemency list. The firm positions its work as countering alleged political persecution and frames the entire effort as a broad, ongoing influence operation rather than a one-time transaction.
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When asked about quoting $300,000 to Armand and $600,000 to Boozie, the pardon broker explained that multiple factors determine pricing. A significant consideration is the client's criminal history. Individuals with extensive criminal records make it substantially more difficult to argue for a pardon. The broker evaluates cases based on difficulty level, required resources, and opportunity cost from declining other clients.
The broker was questioned about telling the Cabinos that part of the $300,000 would fund tickets to fundraising events at Mar-a-Lago or Bedminster. The broker clarified that expenses include travel to events the firm may or may not otherwise attend, but stated the lion's share represents payment for services and profit. The broker denied any political contributions, stating there is no pay-to-play arrangement.
Mr. Schwartz paid nearly a million dollars for advocacy services and "strategery." When questioned about the amount, the broker encouraged comparison with competitor lobbying fees across all directions and suggested studying the top five competitors. The broker emphasized that advocacy requires years of knowledge, training, and government experience.
When the Cavinos inquired about pursuing pardons through the Department of Justice, the broker stated the DOJ is irrelevant and an afterthought. The broker explained that President Trump does not make decisions based on nameless, faceless bureaucrats. The broker contrasted this with traditional DOJ processes used by Biden, Obama, Bush, and Clinton administrations, noting those processes can take so long they may not be completed before a president leaves office or a person dies.
The broker denied that clients must pay to access the pardon process, stating the firm runs a lobbying practice. The firm assists clients with defense appropriations issues, pharmaceutical regulatory issues, and occasionally pardon requests. The broker framed their work as rectifying what they described as the Biden Justice Department's "KGB-like persecution" of Republicans.
The broker confirmed hiring influencers in some cases and paying them. When asked about coordinating with Laura Loomer, the broker described her as a long-time friend and "great patriot" whom they admire deeply. The broker stated they have never paid Laura Loomer but have discussed many things with her over the years. When questioned about Erica Kirk, the broker stated they had no knowledge of her.
The broker explained their approach involves talking to hundreds of people weekly, including staffers for other clients such as defense contractors and pharmaceutical companies. When discussing pardon clients, they might mention these cases to various contacts including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Natalie Harp. The broker emphasized that pardon work should be viewed as a giant advocacy campaign rather than a single outreach effort. Thousands of people seek presidential clemency at any given time, and the goal is to percolate their clients' interests to the top of consideration.
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