Alice Marie Johnson, President Trump’s pardon czar, has issued a public warning about scammers who are impersonating her and demanding money from individuals seeking clemency.
Johnson stated that fraudsters have been contacting pardon applicants, claiming to represent her and asking for cash or sensitive information in exchange for clemency assistance. "If someone contacts you claiming to represent me and asks for money or sensitive information, please report it immediately to law enforcement," Johnson wrote on social media. "People seeking a second chance deserve hope – not exploitation. Please help me warn others."
She emphasized that neither she nor the official pardon office would ever request money for a clemency processing fee or guarantee presidential review in exchange for payment. The White House has shared an example of a fake email purportedly from Johnson, which praised an applicant and promised to present the case to the President within two weeks upon receiving personal information, including passport and case files.
For those seeking a pardon, Johnson directed them to the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney and urged them not to send money, photos, or personal information to suspected scammers. Despite these warnings, a significant pardon industry has developed around the Trump presidency, with some clemency clients reportedly paying firms and intermediaries millions of dollars to advocate for their pardons.
Johnson, who was granted a full pardon by Trump in 2020 after serving time for a nonviolent drug conviction, was appointed as the president's pardon czar in February 2025. Her role involves identifying potential candidates and recommending individuals for pardons and commutations. She has previously brought cases before the president, including the pardons of five former professional football players announced in February.
Typically, pardon requests are handled by the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, which generally advises waiting until five years after a sentence is completed and contrition is demonstrated. However, President Trump has often taken a more direct approach, intervening in cases brought to his attention, such as Johnson's own pardon, which followed advocacy from Jared Kushner and Kim Kardashian.