A firm that was started by former Trump administration and campaign officials has been lobbying on behalf of people seeking pardons, according to a report.
CBS News reported that Mo Strategies has been lobbying on behalf of the law firm Blessinger Legal on "immigration and pardon-related" matters.
"We're one of the fastest-growing firms in D.C., and are helping them navigate the landscape and process," Marty Obst, president of Mo Strategies told CBS News. "What I've tried to do is provide guidance of what the process looks like, and what types of cases would appeal to this White House...There's a legal process and a political process for pardons and clemency."
The network cited federal lobbying disclosure documents in reporting that Mo Strategies had already received $500,000 in income from the lobbying efforts. According to the filings, the firm lobbied the White House and the Justice Department to advance pardons.
Trump has issued numerous pardons and sentence commutations since taking office. The first actions related to the January 6 Capitol riot, when the president commuted the sentence or issued pardons related to all of those charged in connection with the incident. Since that blanket action, Trump's clemency choices have become more targeted.
A Justice Department spokesperson told CBS News that the pardon office regularly receives requests for clemency, adding that the requests are reviewed and the office "makes recommendations to the president that are consistent, unbiased, and uphold the rule of law...There has been no departure from this longstanding process."
The outlet went on to say that some Mo Strategies clients have been companies seeking to navigate administration trade policy or regulations, such as Tencent America, the American subsidiary of the Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent.
In other cases, the company has provided help and guidance related to immigration matters or to those seeking clemency regarding a past criminal conviction.
"The Biden administration really expanded government reach, sometimes unfairly," Obst told CBS News, without citing specifics. "In some cases, there were very aggressive prosecutions that seemed highly political. There are cases that qualify as needing further review. Whether or not they get a pardon — there are no guarantees to that."
