Donald Trump has used his presidential powers to pardon a number of criminals with five NFL stars arrested under federal crimes while one has been pardoned posthumously this week
08:06 ET, 13 Feb 2026Updated 08:06 ET, 13 Feb 2026
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Trump has pardoned five former NFL stars(Image: AP)
Donald Trump has pardoned five former NFL players this week with one being involved in the trafficking of cocaine - despite him coming down hard traffickers and cartels since becoming 47th president.
On Thursday, Trump pardoned former NFL stats Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Billy Cannon, who has passed away, and Travis Henry. The latter, Henry, was arrested and sentenced for his allege involvement in a multi-kilogram cocaine transaction as court documents brandished him as "the ruthless 'money guy' in a cocaine trafficking ring".
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This is not the first time that Trump has pardoned drug traffickers in recent weeks, having done so for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who is serving a 45-year-sentence in the U.S. for drug trafficking.
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It has raised questions over Trump's logic, being so tough on drugs and trafficking, amid ongoing ICE agents deporting thousands across the country with narcotics being said to be a huge factor as to why he is doing so.
The pardons were announced by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson.
She said: "Today, the President granted pardons to five former NFL players—Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, and the late great Dr. Billy Cannon.
Henry was sentenced to three years in federal prison
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Henry was sentenced to three years in federal prison
"As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation. Special thanks to Jerry Jones for personally sharing the news with Nate Newton.
"I’m holding Nate’s pardon in my hands today—what a blessed day. Grateful to POTS for his continued commitment to second chances. Mercy changes lives."
Newton had been a Dallas Cowboys legend, with team owner Jerry Jones having spoken to her and thankful of his pardoning.
Henry played for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos as a Pro Bowl running back. After retiring, he had become involved in drug trafficking while pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine for financing a drug ring that moved the drug between Colorado and Montana.
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Trump's logic on pardoning drug traffickers has been questioned(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Trump pardoning those found guilty of traffickers has been questioned in the past.
On the aforementioned Hernandez' release, Representative Joaquin Castro wrote on X: "Juan Orlando Hernandez was convicted by a jury of conspiring to traffic 400 tons of cocaine into the United States...
"He is responsible for the deaths of countless American citizens, and will now be pardoned by Donald Trump. Don’t tell me Donald Trump is killing people in boats in the Caribbean to stop drug trafficking."
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The White House has not given a statement on the releases of the five mentioned by Johnson.
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