The White House recently announced that President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to former Republican Indiana Representative Stephen Buyer. This pardon reverses Buyer’s 2023 federal conviction for using insider information for profit, which led to a 22-month prison sentence.
Stephen Buyer, a former chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, was involved in the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton in 1998. He was convicted of leveraging nonpublic insider information after leaving office.
The White House hailed Buyer’s career as “distinguished and highly productive,” noting his roles as a judge advocate general in the U.S. Army and as a U.S. representative from 1993 to 2011.
The pardon had significant political support, including endorsements from over 50 lawmakers. Some notable supporters were Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Roger Wicker, along with former House Speaker John Boehner.
The proclamation also instructed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to secure a certificate of pardon for Buyer.
Buyer’s legal trouble stemmed from accusations regarding stock purchases. He allegedly bought stock in Navigant before its acquisition by his client, Guidehouse, and in Sprint before its unannounced merger with T-Mobile.
During the trial, Judge Richard Berman claimed Buyer obstructed justice by providing false information about his trades. Despite his defense team’s efforts for leniency, Buyer was sentenced to 22 months in prison. He was also ordered to forfeit $354,027 from his trades and pay a $10,000 fine.
Buyer’s lawyers highlighted financial hardships, noting that he and his wife had to sell their assets, including their home, condo, and two cars. His wife even returned to work at the age of 65.
While federal prosecutors requested Buyer to cover $1.4 million in legal fees, the judge denied this motion.
Fox News Digital’s report was contributed to by Anders Hagstrom, with significant reporting from Alexandra Koch, who covers major breaking news events.