WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it during an indoor inauguration parade at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump pardoned Paul Walczak, a former nursing home chief executive who was charged with tax crimes.
Following the 2024 election, Walczak had pleaded guilty to the charges and sent a pardon application to Trump around Inauguration Day. In his application, Walczak mentioned his mother, Elizabeth Fago, whose monetary contributions were made toward Trump’s presidential campaign.
Fago had raised millions of dollars for the campaign as well as attempted to undermine former President Joe Biden’s campaign in 2020 by publicizing Ashley Biden’s addiction diary.
In Walczak’s application, he stated that his motivation behind his crimes was a result of Fago’s contribution and support for Trump, rather than using the money for employees’ taxes to sustain his lifestyle.
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Walczak stole over $10 million in three years from nurses, doctors and other employees who worked at the nursing home. He had falsely claimed that he was using the withheld money to cover employees’ Social Security, Medicare and income taxes. Still, he ultimately used the money to fund luxury purchases, including a $2 million yacht.
Walczak was charged in February 2023 with 13 charges of tax crimes. By November 2024, Walczak had pleaded guilty to two charges; however, by that time, Trump had been elected to his second term.
Before Walczak’s pardon application, another application was sent in on his behalf. Supporters of this application claimed that Walczak’s charges were a result of being the son of a Trump supporter. The application brought up Biden’s reasoning for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, for tax and gun crimes.
While Walczak didn’t receive a pardon for months, in April, Fago was invited to a $1 million dinner, where she was guaranteed the opportunity to speak with Trump. Trump signed a pardon for Walczak almost three weeks after the dinner.
Last week, Trump pardoned notorious gang leader Larry Hoover at the recommendation of Kanye West.
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