Trump to pardon former governor of Puerto Rico

The White House official told Politico that Vázquez Garced had merely discussed a policy matter with a possible donor and did not exchange a policy move for money.

By Ben Whedon

Published: January 16, 2026 4:18pm

President Donald Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced, Politico reported, citing a "White House official."

Vázquez Garced endorsed Trump in 2020 and subsequently faced criminal charges for bribery. She pleaded guilty to a different charge, though Politico's source indicated that the timing of the prosecution suggested a political element.

“They have to go to vote, exercise their right to vote and evaluate who has represented being a person who thinks about Puerto Ricans and their needs at the most difficult moment. It is Donald Trump," she said at the time.

The Puerto Rico politician left office in 2021. The White House official told Politico that Vázquez Garced had merely discussed a policy matter with a possible donor and did not exchange a policy move for money.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.