Former US Congressman Stephen Buyer, a Republican from Indiana, has been pardoned by President Donald Trump for his involvement in insider trading. Buyer was convicted of securities fraud related to insider trading in 2018 as a consultant for T-Mobile US before its merger with Sprint, resulting in a 22-month prison sentence in 2023.

The White House provided no specific reason for the pardon, highlighting Buyer’s distinguished service as a US Army judge advocate general and member of Congress. Trump’s decision to grant Buyer a full pardon was influenced by advice and recommendations from 52 current and former members of the US Senate and House of Representatives.

This pardon adds to a series of controversial pardons by Trump, including the release of former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. Buyer, who served as a Republican Congressman from 1993 to 2011, was found guilty of four counts of securities fraud, with prosecutors stating that he profited from illegal trades based on insider information regarding the telecommunications merger talks.

During the trial, Buyer denied trading on inside information, but prosecutors argued that he abused trust and lied under oath. The US Supreme Court declined to hear Buyer’s appeal of his conviction.