3 days ago
What to know about Trump's pardon of ex-Cincinnati City Councilman PG Sittenfeld
Former Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who was convicted of federal bribery and attempted extortion charges, was pardoned May 28 by President Donald Trump.
Sittenfeld's convictions derailed a promising political career, in which he had once been the frontrunner for mayor. He was arrested months after announcing his campaign for Cincinnati mayor in 2020.
The president's decision to grant clemency to Sittenfeld came as an unexpected move, considering the ex-councilman had voiced disapproval of Trump.
Here's what we know and don't know about Sittenfeld's pardon.
Trump signed an "executive grant of clemency" directing the U.S. Attorney General to sign and grant a "full and unconditional pardon" to Sittenfeld.
"The Attorney General shall declare that her action is the act of the President, being performed at my direction," it reads. However, the document does not list any specific reasons why Trump would grant such a pardon.
The case against Sittenfeld centered on donations to his political action committee, which prosecutors said he solicited from an informant for the FBI and FBI agents posing as developers of a downtown Cincinnati project.
Prosecutors said Sittenfeld's actions went beyond campaign fundraising and crossed the line into bribery. A jury found him guilty in 2022.
After a lengthy post-conviction legal battle, Sittenfeld was sentenced to 16 months in prison, although he only served about four and a half months at a facility in Ashland, Kentucky.
In May 2024, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals released him while his appeal was pending. Earlier this year, the 6th Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, upheld the convictions. At that time, all three Trump-appointed judges appeared to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.
Sittenfeld has taken his case to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his convictions. It's not clear if Sittenfeld will continue to challenge his convictions.
It remains unclear how Sittenfeld, a Democrat who once called Trump a 'buffoonish carnival barker," was able to garner favor with the Republicn president's administration.
More: Trump's pardon of Sittenfeld stunned many in Cincinnati, but the move fits a pattern
Trump has complained repeatedly about what he describes as the 'weaponization' of the legal system against him and others.
He's also granted clemency to other public officials convicted of corruption charges, although most of those pardons have gone to Republicans or to people who've publicly praised Trump.
Ultimately, the president doesn't have to explain his reasons for pardoning anyone, including Sittenfeld. The pardon power requires no Congressional oversight and no judicial review.
Sittenfeld wasn't the only person Trump deemed fit to grant clemency for federal convictions. The moves were part of a fresh wave of pardons by Trump on May 28, according to USA TODAY.
Other prominent people who received a pardon from Trump include:
Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, who pleaded guilty in late 2004 to one count of conspiring to commit tax fraud and depriving the public of honest service.
Louisiana-born rapper NBA YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, who pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge in 2024.
Larry Hoover, a Chicago gang leader who co-founded the Gangster Disciples and was convicted of murder in 1973. Hoover is still serving state sentences.
Former New York Rep. Michael Grimm, a Republican who resigned after being convicted of tax fraud.
Former 1st Lt. Mark Bashaw, who was discharged from the U.S. Army after his 2022 conviction at a special court martial for refusing to follow COVID-19 safety measures.
Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley of "Chrisley Knows Best" fame, who were found guilty in 2022 of conspiring to commit tax evasion and defraud Atlanta banks, as well as the IRS.
Enquirer staff writers Kevin Grasha, Dan Horn and Scott Wartman contributed to this report. USA TODAY also contributed.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: PG Sittenfeld pardon: What to know about Trump's order to grant clemency
