Without making much noise about it, the Trump Administration is continuing to give gun rights back to convicted felons—including, most recently, an indicted ‘fake elector.’
Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman was indicted in 2024 for being a fake elector in 2020, and was one of dozens of people President Trump pardoned in November. He and 21 others had their gun rights restored last month in a low-key Department of Justice announcement in the Federal Register.
The restorations are part of a broader Trump DOJ push to revive a program that was inactive for more than 30 years. It allows people with certain felony convictions to regain their gun rights. The effort began last year, when 10 people had their rights restored, including actor Mel Gibson, who was convicted of misdemeanor battery of his girlfriend in 2011.
The DOJ told National Public Radio that the people on this latest list were all convicted of nonviolent offenses, such as passing counterfeit money or receiving stolen vehicles. Hoffman still faces state felony charges related to the fake elector case.
Although the DOJ may be granting forgiveness through federal law, states can still forbid certain people from getting guns through stricter local laws.