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Trump pardoned two DC police officers convicted of murder and cover-up in Karon Hylton-Brown's death, before either served time

On January 22, 2025, President Trump granted full pardons to Washington, D.C. police officers Terence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky before either served a day of their sentences for the 2020 death of Karon Hylton-Brown. A federal jury had convicted Sutton of second-degree murder and both officers of obstruction of justice for covering up the fatal chase; a judge had sentenced Sutton to five years and Zabavsky to four. Neither officer met Justice Department clemency guidelines, which require having served most of a sentence and expressed remorse.

Jurisdiction
Federal
Location
Washington, D.C.

Abuses documented

Actors

On January 22, 2025 — two days after pardoning Jan. 6 rioters who assaulted police — President Trump granted full and unconditional pardons to Washington, D.C. police officers Terence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky before either served a day of their sentences. A federal jury had convicted Sutton of second-degree murder, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, and Zabavsky of conspiracy and obstruction, for their roles in the October 2020 death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown; a judge sentenced Sutton to five years and Zabavsky to four. Neither officer met Justice Department clemency guidelines, which require having served most of a sentence and expressed remorse.

Prosecutors said Sutton pursued Hylton-Brown, who was riding a moped without a helmet, at unreasonable speeds through residential streets and alleys, at times without emergency lights on, until Hylton-Brown was struck and killed by an oncoming minivan. Investigators said the officers then covered up the chase: they turned off body cameras, failed to report the pursuit to superiors, told the driver who struck Hylton-Brown to leave the scene, and gave witnesses no opportunity to provide statements.

Updates

2025-07-23 — D.C. Auditor found officers' discipline "grossly inadequate" [4]

The Office of the D.C. Auditor found the discipline ultimately imposed on Sutton and Zabavsky "grossly inadequate" given their convictions for second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in Hylton-Brown's death.

2026-06-08 — Sutton and Zabavsky sued the United States for malicious prosecution [6, 7]

Sutton and Zabavsky filed a Federal Tort Claims Act lawsuit against the United States in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleging malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment, and claiming they were politically scapegoated during the case's original prosecution amid the 2020 unrest following George Floyd's death. Trump's pardon attorney, Ed Martin, called the original case a "bogus charge."

Why we recorded this

The pardon power exists to correct injustice, not to shield officials from accountability for crimes committed in the course of their duties. A federal jury convicted two DC police officers of murder and obstruction for causing and covering up Karon Hylton-Brown's death, and Trump pardoned both before they served any of their sentences, despite neither meeting Justice Department clemency guidelines. This archive records when executive clemency is used to insulate law enforcement from the consequences of documented misconduct, undermining accountable use of force.

Sources

  1. Clemency Grants by President Donald J. Trump (2025-Present) — U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney primary accessed July 31, 2026
  2. A jury found two police officers covered up a murder. Trump pardoned them. — MS NOW investigative accessed July 31, 2026
  3. Trump pardons DC officers convicted in death and cover up — CNN secondary accessed July 31, 2026
  4. Discipline of MPD Officers in Death of Karon Hylton Brown was "Grossly Inadequate" — Office of the D.C. Auditor primary accessed July 31, 2026
  5. DC auditor finds discipline of officers in Hylton-Brown case 'grossly inadequate' — NBC4 Washington investigative accessed July 31, 2026
  6. Pardoned MPD officers sue US, say DOJ made them scapegoats — Washington Examiner investigative accessed August 2, 2026
  7. Sutton et al v. United States of America, No. 1:2026cv02025 — U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (via Justia) primary accessed August 2, 2026

See also