President Donald Trump has issued a pardon to Stephen Buyer, a former Republican congressman from Indiana, who was convicted of insider trading. Buyer served nearly two years in prison after being sentenced to 22 months in 2023 for making illegal stock trades based on inside information after leaving office. He was ordered to forfeit over $350,000 and pay a $10,000 fine, and was released in 2025.
The Supreme Court rejected Buyer’s appeal in May without comment. In granting the pardon, Trump cited Buyer’s distinguished career as a judge advocate general in the Army and his service in the House. The pardon was dated Thursday and released by the White House on Friday.
Buyer stated that the pardon corrects a politically motivated prosecution and maintains his innocence. Trump shared letters requesting the pardon on his Truth Social platform, highlighting support from over 40 former Republicans in Congress who claimed Buyer was targeted due to his involvement in Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial. A second letter from five current House Republicans also supported the pardon, stating it would bring justice to Buyer’s case.
Buyer was convicted in connection with insider trading related to the $26.5 billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint and illegal trades involving the consulting company Navigant. The Constitution grants the president broad power to issue pardons for federal crimes, which do not erase a criminal record but can be seen as acts of mercy or justice.
