Trump’s Pardon Ends Federal Case Against Vázquez
In a major presidential action Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Wanda Vázquez Garced, the former governor of Puerto Rico, effectively halting a federal corruption case linked to her 2020 political campaign. A White House official described the original prosecution as politically motivated, saying it began shortly after Vázquez publicly backed Trump’s re-election bid.
The pardon also extends to two of Vázquez’s co-defendants — Julio Martín Herrera Velutini, a Venezuelan-Italian banker, and Mark Rossini, a former FBI agent — who were implicated in the same campaign finance matter.
Background: Charges, Guilty Plea, and Trial Postponement
Vázquez, who led Puerto Rico from 2019 to 2021, previously pleaded guilty to a federal campaign finance violation last year, a charge stemming from alleged improper contributions tied to her gubernatorial campaign. Prosecutors had been seeking a sentence of up to one year in prison before the pardon was announced.
Federal authorities said the case involved offers to support her political campaign in exchange for influencing leadership at Puerto Rico’s financial regulatory office. Her lawyers argued prosecutors violated earlier plea agreements that had dismissed more serious charges such as bribery and fraud.
Political Reactions and Broader Clemency Trends
The decision to pardon Vázquez has drawn attention as part of a broader pattern of clemency actions by the Trump administration. Officials close to the White House assert that this and similar cases reflect political prosecutions rather than legitimate legal actions. Critics counter that using clemency to overturn convictions for political allies raises concerns about fairness in the justice system.
Trump’s pardon power has been exercised repeatedly with controversial results since he assumed office, including clemency for various political figures and white-collar defendants.
