Mackenzie’s office told NOTUS that the Republican congressman did not speak with the White House or Trump about the pardon, but it declined to answer questions about whether the congressman intends to keep Kidan’s donation. “Congressman Mackenzie has never advocated for a pardon from the President on anyone’s behalf,” Mackenzie spokesperson Arnaud Armstrong said in a statement. “That’s why we have a rigorous review process involving the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel’s Office,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. He gave around $270,000 to Trump-affiliated committees during the 2024 election cycle, according to federal records, and has hosted fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago. This article has been updated to include comments from the White House.