DOJ investigating potential presidential pardon bribery scheme News
Photo Credit: Stephanie Sundier
DOJ investigating potential presidential pardon bribery scheme

A redacted memorandum opinion from the US District Court for the District of Columbia unsealed Monday revealed that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating a potential bribery scheme for a presidential pardon.

On November 25, the government submitted a status report asking that the record remain unsealed. After the court directed the government to explain why each line should remain under seal, the government filed a responsive status report on Monday with a redacted version of the opinion that could be unsealed.

In the memorandum opinion, District Judge Beryl Howell reviewed the DOJ’s application seeking to review certain attorney-client communications.

According to the document, the DOJ looked through 50 devices, including laptops and phones, and identified criminal activity. This included lobbyists who did not comply with the registration requirement of the Lobbying Disclosure Act. This also included a related bribery conspiracy scheme, in which someone would offer “a substantial political contribution” in exchange for a presidential pardon.

In the opinion, Howell concluded that emails related to the bribery-for-pardon scheme were not protected by the attorney-client privilege, so the DOJ could use them in their investigation.

The government is required to file another status report within the next year as to whether the record may be further unsealed.

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