Terren Scott Peizer
Pardon by Donald J. Trump
The Case
Facts on file from the DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney
- Offense
- Securities fraud; insider trading (two counts)
- District
- Central California
- Original Sentence
- 42 months' imprisonment; three years' supervised release; $5,250,000 fine (June 23, 2025)
- Clemency Type
- Pardon — full forgiveness, restores civil rights
Case Overview & Context
Plain-English summary of the case and the legal context for this type of clemency
Case Overview
Terren Scott Peizer was convicted in the Central District of California of securities fraud and two counts of insider trading. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $5,250,000 fine on June 23, 2025.
Pardon Context
A pardon is an act of executive clemency that forgives the offense and restores civil rights such as voting, holding office, and serving on a jury, though the conviction itself remains part of the historical record. Unlike a commutation, which merely reduces a sentence, a pardon represents official forgiveness and can eliminate certain collateral consequences of conviction. Under Article II of the Constitution, the presidential pardon power for federal offenses is plenary and not subject to judicial review. The president's personal reasoning for this specific grant is not publicly documented.
AI-generated summary based on public clemency records. The president's specific personal reasoning for this grant is not publicly documented.
Constitutional authority: Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the President “Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States.” This power is absolute for federal crimes — Congress cannot override it, and no judicial review is required. The president is not required to publish reasons for individual grants.