Trump wiped away at least $119 million in unpaid restitution through clemency orders
Donald Trump's clemency orders have erased at least $119 million in unpaid court-ordered restitution owed to crime victims since January 2025, a CBS News investigation found. CBS reviewed court judgments in more than 160 clemency orders. One victim said he felt victimized again, adding that he did not question Trump's constitutional authority but viewed authority and accountability as different matters.
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At least $119 million in victims' unpaid restitution has been wiped away by clemency orders Trump issued since January 2025, according to CBS News. Its examination of court judgments tied to more than 160 clemency orders put the amount owed directly to victims at about $119.4 million. The network reported that some victims may never recover money courts ordered repaid. Crime victim Franco told CBS he felt victimized all over again. He said he did not question Trump's constitutional authority to grant clemency, but added: “Authority and accountability are two very different things.”
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Verifier’s note
CBS News reports that Trump’s clemency orders erased at least $119 million in restitution, matching the proposed event. Raw Story and AOL also report the finding, but their results attribute it to or reproduce CBS News’s investigation.