According to a prominent biographer, the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had accurately predicted that Donald Trump would misuse the power of presidential pardon for his own benefit if he ever returned to the White House. Author Michael Wolff, known for his books on Trump, shared this claim during a recent podcast appearance, stating the prediction has materialized.
Epstein's Foresight on Trump's Pardons
Speaking on the 'Inside Trump’s Head' podcast, Wolff recounted a conversation he had with Epstein before Trump's first election victory. The financier, who was a former friend of Trump, had a "kind of riff" about how the real estate mogul would wield executive clemency. Epstein believed Trump would use the pardon power to serve his own interests and to gain leverage over people, Wolff told host Joanna Coles.
Wolff elaborated that Epstein understood Trump's personality well. "He loves having this kind of thing. He loves showing the power that he has," Epstein had said, according to the biographer. Wolff added that Epstein characterized Trump's potential use of such powers as "childlike."
Controversial Clemency Actions Since 2024
Since reassuming the presidency in January 2024, Trump's pardon record has drawn significant scrutiny and, for some, confirmed Epstein's warning. He has granted clemency to more than 1,500 individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6 Capitol riots. Furthermore, he has hinted at a potential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former associate, fueling speculation about hidden motives.
The controversy extended internationally this week when Trump granted clemency to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Hernandez was sentenced in 2023 to 45 years in a US prison for drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Wolff called this pardon "particularly striking," noting the administration's tough stance on drug smuggling contrasted with freeing a major convicted trafficker.
Biographer Criticises Pardon Rationale
Michael Wolff was sharply critical of the pattern behind Trump's pardons. He argued that, unlike traditional clemency based on mercy or justice, Trump's decisions are often politically motivated. "These people have done the deed and Trump has decided for a variety of reasons—it was a political prosecution—some fig leaf rationale," Wolff stated. The "real reason," he claimed, is that pardoned individuals become part of Trump's "structural support base."
Wolff also suggested that access to this clemency often depends on "money and connections." He cited the example of cryptocurrency billionaire Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao, who received a pardon in October 2024 after his company, Binance, was reported to have financially benefited the Trump family and hired lobbyists to push for clemency.
The White House has dismissed Wolff's allegations. It is worth noting that Wolff himself faces questions regarding his association with Epstein, as highlighted by newly released emails from a House committee last month.
