“When people say, ‘there’s brokers, there’s quid pro quo,’ I’ve never seen it. I haven’t seen it. I haven’t heard it,” says Ed Martin, a Trump appointee who until nine days ago ran the pardon office at the Justice Department. Lesley Stahl points out: “They’re bragging about going around you.” “I don’t see any evidence of some magical brokers. I think people are trying to make money,” replies Martin. “They’re snake oil salesmen, they’re swamp salesmen. What word do you want?” The White House told 60 Minutes: “Anyone spending money to lobby for pardons is foolishly wasting their money… President Trump performs his constitutional duties in an ethically sound manner, and to suggest so otherwise is either ill-informed or malicious.” #pardon #uspolitics #doj #departmentofjustice