Senators to Trump: “The commutation of David Gentile’s sentence is legally indefensible, morally reprehensible, and a crushing blow to the thousands of victims whose lives he destroyed.”
“They will not forget that when they needed their government to stand with them against the man who stole their futures, their President chose to stand with the criminal instead.”
WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) demanded answers from President Donald Trump over his decision to commute the sentence of convicted fraudster David Gentile just twelve days into his seven-year prison sentence and erase his $15.5 million restitution obligation to victims.
Last year, a federal jury convicted Gentile of defrauding 17,000 investors of over $1 billion through a multi-year Ponzi scheme, finding him guilty on multiple counts of wire and securities fraud.
“Mr. President, the commutation of David Gentile’s sentence is legally indefensible, morally reprehensible, and a crushing blow to the thousands of victims whose lives he destroyed. A federal jury convicted him after a lengthy trial. A federal judge sentenced him and your own appointed prosecutor declared the sentence just. Yet after twelve days—less time than many Americans spend on vacation—you determined that justice had been sufficiently served,” the Senators wrote. “The victims of this fraud—the teachers, veterans, nurses, farmers, elderly retirees, families of disabled children, and nonprofit organizations—will not recover from this decision. They will not regain their lost savings. They will not reclaim their financial security. They will not forget that when they needed their government to stand with them against the man who stole their futures, their President chose to stand with the criminal instead.”
The senators’ letter highlights the suffering of the 17,000 investors defrauded by Gentile, almost a quarter of which are senior citizens.
“The victims represent a cross-section of hardworking Americans: retired educators who dedicated careers to public service; military veterans who served this nation with honor; healthcare professionals who spent decades caring for the sick, multigenerational family farmers, families of disabled children requiring ongoing medical care and specialized services, and nonprofit organizations whose endowment funds were decimated, compromising their ability to serve vulnerable populations,” the Senators continued. “Many victims have been forced to postpone retirement indefinitely, return to work in their seventies, liquidate homes and assets, or rely upon adult children for financial support. […] The financial devastation is permanent for numerous elderly victims who lack the time or earning capacity to rebuild lost savings.”
In their letter, the senators asked Trump to explain why Gentile received clemency, why Gentile’s co-conspirator remains in prison, whether any victims were consulted before the commutation, and what assurance exists that fraudsters will be held accountable going forward.
The letter was endorsed by Better Markets, American Economic Liberties Project, and Americans for Financial Reform.
“Trump’s repeated commutations and pardons of numerous criminals is making crime great again, incentivizing more crime, and victimizing more hardworking Americans. It’s indefensible and his most recent commutation of David Gentile’s 7 year sentence to 12 days is just the latest outrageous example that undermines the rule of law and sends a dangerous message: if you’re wealthy and can buy access to Trump, then you can buy a ‘get out of jail free’ card no matter how egregious your crimes. We applaud the Senators for condemning these baseless, dangerous actions,” said Dennis M. Kelleher, Co-founder, President, and CEO of Better Markets.
“Crime shouldn’t pay,” said Morgan Harper, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the American Economic Liberties Project. “Donald Trump was elected to overturn a corrupt system, but he is instead perpetuating a two-tier justice system that only rewards well-connected white-collar offenders. At some point, Americans are going to wonder why Trump treats Ponzi schemers and people indicted for bribery better than farmers, workers, and the 17,000 consumers that lost their life savings to this fraud – and the administration will have to answer.”
Read the full letter HERE.
12/12/25