By Maribel Velazquez
The president donald trump granted a full pardon to former Republican Congressman Stephen Buyerwho was convicted of carrying out stock market operations with insider information and obtained more than $350,000 in illicit profits, according to information released by the White House and reported by US media.
Buyer, a representative from Indiana for nearly two decades, He served a 22-month prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 for using confidential information obtained while working as a consultant and lobbyist after leaving Congress.
The presidential decision was formalized on Thursday and published by the White House on Friday night. In the document, Trump highlighted Buyer’s military and political careerwhom he described as a public servant with a “distinguished and very productive” career.
The case that led Buyer to prison
The conviction against Buyer was related to financial operations linked to the merger of T-Cell and Movevalued at $26.5 billion, as well as transactions made prior to Guidehouse’s acquisition of consulting firm Navigant.
The authorities concluded that the former legislator used non-public information to obtain financial benefits before the operations were officially announced to the market.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the confiscation of more than $350,000 obtained illegally and the payment of a $10,000 fine.
After knowing the pardon, Buyer insisted he was always innocent. and described his prosecution as a politically motivated action.
“It was defective to be imprisoned for a crime I did not commit,” stated the former congressman in statements broadcast by US media.
Trump argues political persecution
The move comes after Trump shared letters of support signed by former Republican lawmakers and current members of Congress asking for clemency for Buyer on his Truth Social social network.
In one of the letters, More than 40 former congressmen claimed that the former representative was the victim of alleged “deep state persecution.” Another letter, signed by five Republican lawmakers, argued that a pardon would help right an injustice.
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