Lobbyist Who Helped a Client Pursue a Pardon is Arrested on an Extortion Charge

New York Times
by Kenneth P. Vogel, William K. Rashbaum and Santul Nerkar
March 14, 2026
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2 min read

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A lobbyist was arrested on extortion charges after helping a client secure a presidential pardon.

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Josh Nass, a lawyer and lobbyist, was arrested on extortion charges after helping client Joseph Schwartz secure a presidential pardon from President Trump late last year. Schwartz is a former nursing home executive who received the pardon through Nass's lobbying efforts. The arrest suggests federal investigators are examining potential criminal conduct in the pardon-seeking process. Nass now faces extortion charges while his recent lobbying success for Schwartz has drawn law enforcement scrutiny. The case marks a rare instance of criminal charges against a lobbyist involved in presidential pardon advocacy.

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Federal investigators are examining potential criminal conduct in the pardon-seeking process.

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