Hidden-camera footage has captured two conservative lobbyists, Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl, offering a convicted felon a $300,000 campaign aimed at securing a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. The proposal was presented to aquarium operator Ammon Covino and his wife, Crystal, during an August meeting at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia. This encounter formed part of a CBS News “60 Minutes” investigation into lobbyists who charge substantial fees to clemency applicants, often promoting their connections to President Trump's allies.
Ammon Covino had served nearly two years in federal prison for illegally transporting a shark and a stingray across state lines. He had previously submitted a traditional pardon application to the Justice Department, but President Trump rejected this request in July. Burkman and Wohl informed Covino that their strategy would involve recruiting conservative influencers and individuals with political connections to publicly advocate for his case. "With this particular White House, you have to put pressure on the president from all directions in a consistent way to force his hand," Burkman stated in the recorded footage. The lobbyists reportedly predicted they could secure a pardon for Covino by October. Unbeknownst to them, Covino was collaborating with CBS News and equipped with hidden cameras. Covino never paid the firm, and President Trump did not pardon him.
Burkman and Wohl have defended their actions, asserting that their work constitutes legitimate lobbying rather than a guarantee of clemency. They have consistently denied participating in a "pay-to-play" system. "We’re proud of the work we do," Burkman told CBS News. "If people hire advocates, of course they have an advantage. But that’s a very different question than saying something is pay-to-play."
The White House has also rejected any suggestions that these lobbyists possess special access to President Trump or could influence his clemency decisions. White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told the Daily Mail, "Anyone spending money to lobby for pardons is foolishly wasting their money, and the president doesn’t even know who these so-called ‘lobbyists’ are." Bis elaborated that the administration maintains a structured clemency-review process, which includes the White House counsel, the Justice Department, pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson, and ultimately, President Trump, who makes the final decision. White House Counsel Will Scharf affirmed that President Trump performs his constitutional responsibilities in an "ethically sound manner" and dismissed claims suggesting otherwise.
CBS News reported that pardon brokers have charged clients fees as high as $3 million. Federal law mandates that lobbyists disclose their clemency clients and associated fees to Congress. An analysis by the network of Justice Department records indicated that approximately 70 percent of President Trump’s second-term clemency actions did not undergo the department’s standard review process. This figure increased to 92 percent when including the more than 1,500 pardons, commutations, and dismissed prosecutions related to January 6 defendants.
Burkman and Wohl claimed to Covino that they had achieved six successful outcomes for previous clemency clients. Federal lobbying disclosures reveal that their firm received $960,000 from Joseph Schwartz, a former nursing-home operator. Schwartz had pleaded guilty to failing to pay over $38 million in employment taxes withheld from workers and neglecting to file a required retirement-plan report. President Trump pardoned Schwartz in November 2025, three months into his prison sentence. The lobbyists stated that the fee reflected the extensive work required on Schwartz’s case, maintaining their belief that he had been wrongfully prosecuted and was in declining health.
Their dealings with rapper Torence Hatch, legally known as Boosie Badazz, also came under scrutiny in the CBS report. Hatch stated he paid the lobbyists $600,000 after being led to believe their campaign could secure a pardon for his federal gun conviction. President Trump did not grant the pardon. Hatch subsequently initiated arbitration, seeking the return of $300,000, asserting an agreement stipulated a refund of half the payment if clemency was not obtained. Burkman disputed this account, arguing that the final agreement was never signed and that the firm does not owe Hatch any money. Burkman and Wohl further denied sending disputed text messages that described efforts to involve House Speaker Mike Johnson, conservative activist Laura Loomer, and Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk in Hatch’s case. Representatives for Johnson and Turning Point USA confirmed they did not endorse the requested pardon. Loomer stated she does not participate in pardon efforts
