Trump to pardon former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez after plea deal

Al JazeeraCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 16, 2026 at 11:43 PM

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Donald Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rican Governor Wanda Vazquez, who accepted a plea deal in 2025 after being accused of bribery during her time in office. The White House confirmed the pardon, with Trump administration officials linking it to his campaign against "lawfare." This pardon is part of a larger trend of Trump pardoning right-wing officials and allies since returning to office, including individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Trump's pardon record is extensive, potentially surpassing Joe Biden's record of clemency acts. The pardon of Vazquez has drawn criticism from Puerto Rico's political opposition, who argue it undermines public integrity and trust in the justice system.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reuters 30% CBS News 30% January 6, 2021 35% US Capitol 35% Juan Orlando Hernandez 40% Pablo Jose Hernandez Rivera 40% Joe Biden 50% United States 70% Puerto Rico ×685% Donald Trump ×990% Wanda Vazquez Garced ×595%

Keywords

pardon 100% donald trump 90% wanda vazquez 90% puerto rico 80% bribery scheme 70% political persecution 60% corruption 50% acts of clemency 50% us congress 40%