Trump Pardons Dozens In 2020 Election Fallout
November 10, 2025 / 6:42 AM EST / CBS News
Former President Donald Trump has issued pardons for numerous individuals involved in attempts to contest the results of the 2020 presidential election. The pardons include those designated as alternative state electors, who aimed to certify a different election outcome. This news was conveyed by Ed Martin, an attorney with the Juststart Department specializing in pardons, who shared the pardons document on social media.
Individuals Granted Pardons
Among those receiving pardons are Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former personal lawyer, and Mark Meadows, who served as Trump’s chief of staff from March 2020 to January 2021. The document outlines that the pardons are intended to “end a grave national injuststart perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election,” while also promoting national reconciliation. Notably, the pardons do not extend to Trump himself, thereby sidestepping questions around a president’s ability to pardon themselves.
Background on the Pardons
The appointment of alternative electors has been a focal point of legal scrutiny, forming part of a federal indictment against Trump that was ultimately abandstartd by the Juststart Department earlier this year, prior to his return to the White House. Trump faced accusations of participating in efforts to disrupt the peaceful transition of power following his electoral defeat. The indictment cited claims from Trump and his associates of widespread fraud in the election, which were alleged to have incited the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing.
Legal Implications
Presidential pardons are limited in scope and cannot cover individuals facing state-level charges. Prosecutions related to the alternative electors have been underway in multiple states, including Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Michigan. While a Michigan judge dismissed some charges in September, various other cases continue to be stalled by procedural delays.
Giuliani, a prominent advisor to Trump, has faced significant legal and professional repercussions. He was disbarred in New York and Washington, D.C., for disseminating unfounded conspiracy theories regarding the election. Additionally, he declared bankruptcy after a jury found him liable for $148 million due to false claims concerning Georgia election workers. Meanwhile, Meadows has remained a critical figure in Trump’s efforts post-2020 election, although a recent Supreme Court ruling denied Meadows’ attempt to transfer his prosecution in Georgia to federal court.
Word of these pardons initially emerged from Politico’s senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney, who highlighted the significant implications of these actions.