Trump says he is not considering a pardon for Menendez

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is not considering granting pardons to a number of high-profile figures, responding to a question from The New York Times.

Those mentioned include former U.S. senator Robert Menendez, a prominent pro-Armenian lobbyist in Congress who was convicted on corruption charges in 2024; cryptocurrency entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, sentenced in 2023 for stealing billions of dollars from customers; and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Reports had previously said Menendez had sought a pardon from Trump. During his time in the Senate from 2006 to 2024, Menendez voted twice to impeach Trump, in 2019 and 2021.

On July 16, 2024, a New York court found Menendez guilty on all 16 counts of corruption and sentenced him to 11 years in prison. He announced his resignation from the Senate following the verdict.