Trump Pardons Nursing‑Home Executive After Nearly $1M Paid to Two Convicted Operatives

President Donald Trump issued a pardon on Nov. 14 for Joseph Schwartz, a former nursing‑home executive who had pleaded guilty to a $38 million employment tax fraud scheme. Schwartz reportedly paid lobbyists Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl just under $1 million to press his case for clemency.

Schwartz pleaded guilty in November and was later sentenced to three years in prison. His April sentencing followed the installation of Alina Habba—once Trump's defense lawyer—as the acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey, the office that originally secured his conviction.

Burkman and Wohl, who were paid to lobby on Schwartz’s behalf, have their own criminal records. In October 2022 they pleaded guilty in Ohio to felony telecommunications fraud for running tens of thousands of robocalls aimed at discouraging voters in predominantly Black and minority neighborhoods during the 2020 election; they were sentenced to community service and probation. In August they entered no contest pleas to related felony counts in Michigan; sentencing in that case is scheduled for Dec. 1.

Questions About Influence and Justice

Legal analysts say the sequence of payments and the subsequent pardon raises concerns about unequal access to clemency—suggesting that influence and money may secure special treatment under the current administration. Critics point to a broader pattern in which the president has used clemency powers for political allies and wealthy figures.

White House response: A spokesperson said Schwartz "failed to properly oversee that some funding was used for company operations instead of taxes. No funds were used for personal enrichment and Mr. Schwartz immediately paid $5 million in restitution. Prosecutors initially recommended probation, but the judge imposed a three‑year sentence that is exceptionally harmful to a 65‑year‑old man already in deteriorating health."

Burkman said he and his partner were "proud and delighted" at the pardon but declined to provide further detail. Schwartz’s attorney, Kevin Marino, described his client as having been driven into insolvency by a near‑total collapse of the nursing‑home business and said he picked Schwartz up from prison after the pardon to take him home to celebrate with friends and family.

Broader Context

Observers note the pardon comes amid ongoing public debate over whether presidential clemency is being applied consistently or disproportionately benefiting allies and high‑wealth individuals. The case also highlights ethical questions about paid lobbying for pardons, the role of formerly affiliated officials in justice offices, and how those ties influence outcomes.

Requests for comment were made to the White House, the Justice Department, and representatives for Schwartz, Burkman, and Wohl.