Inside Trump's presidential pardon process — Trump Conflict Ledger

Link: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-presidential-pardon-process-dda97c15
Publication date: 2025-12-23
Accessed: 2026-07-21
Last verified: 2026-07-21
Type: news_report
Notes: Documents the Gowdy–Leiweke Mar-a-Lago conversation, success fees reported up to $6 million, and Roger Stone's account of the Hernández pardon timing.

Claims citing this source (2)

Reported Clemency 2025-12-02

Trump pardoned Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke before trial, after Trey Gowdy raised the case at Mar-a-Lago following a round of golf

The December 2, 2025 pardon ended a pending Sherman Act prosecution over a $375 million arena bid; Leiweke had pleaded not guilty.

Reported Clemency 2025-11-28 → 2025-12-01

Trump pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández days before Honduras's election, after Roger Stone delivered the clemency plea

Hernández was serving 45 years for cocaine-importation conspiracy; Stone told the Journal he urged timing the pardon to help Hernández's party.

Timeline events citing this source

2025-12-01 Full pardon signed for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández
2025-12-02 Pretrial pardon for Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke