US President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Stephen Buyer, a former Republican congressman convicted of insider trading and securities fraud. Buyer was sentenced to 22 months in prison in 2023 for using confidential information to profit from stock trades after leaving office. The White House's proclamation emphasized Buyer's distinguished service in the US Army and Congress, although it did not provide a detailed rationale for the pardon. Following his release from prison in 2025, Buyer described his conviction as a result of a politically motivated prosecution. The pardon received backing from over 40 former Republican members of Congress, who argued that Buyer was targeted due to his involvement in the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton. They likened his situation to what they termed "lawfare" against Trump. Under US law, presidential pardons can alleviate penalties for federal crimes but do not erase the convictions themselves, serving as acts of mercy or corrections of perceived injustices.