Judge Susan Brnovich Caught in Trump-Pardon Controversy

Photos published by British tabloids show U.S. District Judge Susan Brnovich on the balcony of George Cottrell, a British fraudster convicted of a 2017 wire-fraud scheme, while Cottrell is seeking a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. The images have prompted accusations that the judge may have been involved in Cottrell’s clemency effort, despite her denial of any such role.

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Susan Brnovich was appointed to the Phoenix federal bench by Trump in 2018 and is the widow of former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Mark Brnovich, who once refused to help overturn the 2020 election, later aligned with MAGA in pursuit of Trump’s endorsement and lost a Senate primary. Prior to his death in January, he reportedly received at least $5,000 from Cottrell for “unspecified legal advice” (The Sunday Times). Cottrell’s ties also extend to Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, who allegedly received secret funding from Cottrell (The Sunday Times). The Arizona Republic notes that the Phoenix court handled Cottrell’s 2017 conviction and will likely be consulted in any pardon process.

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Cottrell responded that the judge is a personal friend of his and that the photographs were used to “score political points” (Arizona Republic).

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A Reuters investigation found that roughly 96 percent of President Trump’s more than 1,700 second-term clemency grants bypassed longstanding Justice Department guidelines, compared with less than 1 percent under President Joe Biden. In April, Judge Brnovich ruled against the Justice Department in a lawsuit seeking Arizona’s voter rolls; the department has since appealed (Votebeat).

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• “This was one of my late husband's favorite places on Earth, and it's where his father's family is from. Just being there made us each feel closer to him,” — Susan Brnovich, district judge

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• “Naturally, it has been emotionally devastating to see our trip mischaracterized by British tabloids and used by those who seek to score political points here at home or abroad,” — Susan Brnovich, district judge

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• “Lastly, I have nothing whatsoever to do with any effort of Mr. Cottrell's to seek clemency, and we did not discuss it,” — Susan Brnovich, district judge

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• “I consider the tactics employed by The Sunday Times, in photographing her on a private family holiday, and then contriving to link her social visit to my application for a pardon, a matter over which she, as a sitting judge, has no say,” — George Cottrell, a British fraudster seeking a presidential pardon

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