Jonathan Braun, a New York drug dealer whose sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump, was sent back to prison in October 2025 after a federal judge found he violated the terms of his release.
Key details of the case:
Trump commutation: In January 2021, Braun had his 10-year prison sentence for a large-scale marijuana trafficking ring commuted by Trump, leading to his release after serving only about a year. The commutation was reportedly secured through connections between Braun’s family and Jared Kushner’s father.
Violations of release:
After his release, Braun was accused in a series of incidents, which led to a federal judge determining he violated the conditions of his release. The incidents included:
Threatening a nurse with an IV pole at a hospital.
Threatening a fellow worshiper at a synagogue.
Evading bridge tolls repeatedly.
Harassing his family’s nanny.
Court proceedings:
In September 2025, a federal judge found that prosecutors had proven, by a “preponderance of the evidence,” that Braun had violated his release terms. Braun was sentenced to up to five years in prison.