Overview: President Trump’s pardon for former Puerto Rico governor Wanda Vázquez Garced cited the 2022 docket 3:22-CR-342 but omitted a separate 2025 docket (3:25-cr-00296) tied to a plea agreement. The White House says it will issue an additional document as a precaution to prevent ambiguity. The 2025 case remains active; Judge Silvia L. Carreño-Coll recently denied a defense motion ahead of the Jan. 29 sentencing. Legal experts warn that imprecise pardon language has repeatedly created litigation and administrative confusion.
Trump Pardon Omitted Separate 2025 Docket for Ex-Puerto Rico Governor; White House Plans Clarifying Document
President Donald Trump's initial pardon of former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced in San Juan did not include all of the criminal cases she's faced. (Ricardo Arduego / AFP via Getty Images file)(Ricardo Arduego)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pardon for former Puerto Rico governor Wanda Vázquez Garced explicitly cited the 2022 indictment docket (3:22-CR-342) but did not name a separate 2025 docket (3:25-cr-00296) tied to a later plea agreement. A White House official said an additional document will be signed as a precaution to eliminate any ambiguity about the scope of the clemency.
Background
Vázquez Garced was first indicted in 2022 on alleged bribery charges related to financing of her 2020 campaign. In August 2025 she pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor campaign finance violation under a different docket number, 3:25-cr-00296. That 2025 docket is not listed in the pardon paperwork issued by the White House.
Why the White House Is Acting
Administration lawyers contend the original pardon language should cover the former governor, particularly because the 2022 case included multiple defendants. Still, officials said they will sign an additional clemency document out of an abundance of caution to ensure there is no question about which offenses were intended to be covered.
Current Case Status
Despite the pardon, the 2025 case remains active. On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Silvia L. Carreño-Coll denied a defense motion related to Vázquez Garced’s sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 29. Defense attorneys have not yet filed motions asking the court to close either docket on the basis of the pardon.
Negotiations, Donations And Questions
The plea agreement followed meetings at Justice Department headquarters between attorneys for Vázquez Garced and her co-defendant Julio Herrera Velutini and Justice Department officials. Chris Kise, who previously worked on former President Trump’s legal team, attended those meetings; defense lawyers said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche "was not present and did not participate" in the negotiations that day.
Vázquez Garced’s lawyers said the plea "resulted from the government’s professional evaluation of new compelling and exculpatory evidence uncovered through defense investigation and presented during good faith negotiations, not from any directive from Main Justice." Separately, Herrera Velutini’s daughter, Isabela Herrera, donated $2.5 million to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. in December 2024. Chris Kise did not respond to a request for comment.
Liz Oyer, a former Justice Department pardon attorney, said recurring drafting and scope problems in recent pardons have generated unnecessary litigation and confusion and that those problems could be avoided with standard processes and consultation with the Office of the Pardon Attorney.
Ryan Crosswell, the prosecutor who led the Vázquez Garced case and is now running for Congress as a Democrat in Pennsylvania, called the pardon "a sad day for the rule of law in America," adding that the people of Puerto Rico deserved to see the case go to trial.
An attorney for Vázquez Garced did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
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