WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to former Republican Rep. Stephen Buyer of Indiana, who was convicted in 2023 on insider trading charges and later served nearly two years in federal prison.
The White House announced the pardon Thursday, describing Buyer’s military and congressional service as “distinguished and highly productive.” Buyer, a Gulf War veteran and former Army judge advocate general, represented Indiana in Congress from 1993 until 2011.
Federal prosecutors secured Buyer’s conviction after alleging he used confidential information obtained through his work as a consultant and lobbyist to make profitable stock trades. The case involved investments connected to the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, as well as trades involving consulting firm Navigant before its acquisition by Guidehouse. Buyer was sentenced to 22 months in prison, ordered to forfeit more than $350,000 in gains, and fined $10,000.
Buyer has consistently maintained his innocence. Following the pardon, he said the action corrected what he described as a politically motivated prosecution and reiterated that he did not commit a crime.
Supporters of the pardon included more than 40 former Republican members of Congress who argued that Buyer had been unfairly targeted. Several current House Republicans also signed a separate letter urging Trump to grant clemency.
Presidential pardons do not erase criminal convictions but restore certain rights and serve as formal acts of executive clemency. The Constitution grants presidents broad authority to pardon individuals convicted of federal crimes.
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