President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to former Republican congressman Stephen Buyer, who was convicted of carrying out insider trading and obtained more than $350,000 in illicit profits, according to information released by the White House and reported by US media.

Buyer, an Indiana representative for nearly two decades, served a 22-month prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of using confidential information obtained while working as a consultant and lobbyist after leaving Congress.

The presidential decision was formalized on Thursday and published by the White House on Friday night. In the document, Trump highlighted the military and political career of Buyer, whom he described as a public servant with a “distinguished and very productive” career.

The case that led Buyer to prison

The conviction against Buyer was related to financial transactions linked to the $26.5 billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, as well as transactions made before Guidehouse's acquisition of consulting firm Navigant.

The authorities concluded that the former legislator used non-public information to obtain financial benefits before the operations were officially announced to the market.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the confiscation of more than $350,000 obtained illegally and the payment of a $10,000 fine.

After learning of the pardon, Buyer insisted that he was always innocent and described his prosecution as a politically motivated action.

“It was horrible to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit,” said the former congressman in statements broadcast by American media.

Trump argues political persecution

The move comes after Trump shared letters of support signed by former Republican lawmakers and current members of Congress asking for clemency for Buyer on his Truth Social social network.

In one of the letters, more than 40 former congressmen stated that the former representative was the victim of alleged “persecution by the deep state.” Another letter, signed by five Republican lawmakers, argued that a pardon would help right an injustice.