Hidden camera footage has captured right-wing provocateurs Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl allegedly proposing a $300,000 operation to secure a presidential pardon from Donald Trump for a convicted felon. The clandestine operation was revealed as part of an undercover investigation.
In a scene described as unfolding at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia, Burkman and Wohl met with Ammon Covino, who had served nearly two years in prison for the illegal transport of a shark and a stingray, and his wife, Crystal. The two men reportedly pitched a plan that included enlisting public influencers to advocate for Covino's pardon. According to the report, Burkman stated, "With this particular White House, you have to put pressure on the President from all directions in a consistent way to force his hand."
Covino had previously submitted a petition for clemency to the Biden administration's Justice Department, but his request was denied in July. This denial placed him among thousands of individuals whose clemency requests were rejected as the administration worked through a backlog of cases.
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Unbeknownst to Burkman and Wohl, Covino was participating in an investigation by CBS News' "60 Minutes" designed to expose the operations of pardon brokers. Covino, equipped with hidden cameras, reached out to the alleged brokers to document their methods.
The White House, in response to the story, stated that Covino was never granted a pardon and that anyone paying lobbyists for pardons would be "foolishly wasting their money." A White House spokesperson added that the President was unaware of these individuals and that the administration has a "robust pardon review process." This process, according to the spokesperson, includes the White House counsel, the Department of Justice, pardon czar Alice Johnson, and ultimately the President.
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Presidential pardons have historically been a subject of controversy. As his term concluded, President Biden issued a series of last-minute pardons, drawing criticism. These pardons included his son, Hunter Biden, and a preemptive pardon for Dr. Anthony Fauci.
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A review of Justice Department records indicated that a significant portion of Trump's clemency actions bypassed standard departmental channels. Sources told CBS News that fees charged by pardon brokers have escalated, sometimes reaching up to $3 million.
Federal law mandates that lobbyists disclose their clemency clients and associated fees to Congress, although the specifics of their operations often remain private. Burkman and Wohl responded to Covino's initial inquiry within minutes, touting their firm's success in securing "six victories" for past clemency applicants. They attributed Covino's conviction to "Obama craziness" and "overreach from that era."
Text messages reportedly sent from Wohl's phone suggested recruiting figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and activist Laura Loomer to support another client's federal gun case. Wohl has denied sending such messages. Burkman and Wohl also denied knowing specific White House aides mentioned in the texts.
Covino stated that he agreed to participate in the undercover operation to "expose unfairness," but acknowledged the difficulty of navigating a system that appears to favor those with connections and financial resources.
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Burkman & Associates, the lobbying firm representing Burkman and Wohl, has stated they are "proud of the registered lobbying and advocacy work" they conduct for their clients.