Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Senator John McCain, has stirred the political waters with a bold prediction: President Trump will eventually pardon Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder of Theranos. In a post on X, McCain called it “one of my hottest, hot takes” that Holmes will receive a presidential pardon.
McCain’s comments came in response to a documentary by comedian Nathan Fielder, titled “You Can See Everything,” which followed Holmes in the days before she began her prison sentence. McCain suggested that Fielder’s work might inadvertently increase the likelihood of a pardon, asking him if he was “aware he just made Elizabeth getting a Trump pardon a lot more likely?”
Holmes was convicted in 2022 for defrauding investors with claims that Theranos’ blood-testing technology could run a wide range of diagnostic tests from a single drop of blood. She is currently serving a 10-year sentence in Texas, with a scheduled transfer to a halfway house in Austin in August 2027.
The case has drawn attention due to the high-profile figures involved, including media mogul Rupert Murdoch and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who invested in Theranos. Former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Shultz also served on the company’s board.
According to the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, Holmes’ legal team reportedly sought a commutation of her sentence earlier this year. The office lists the case as pending, meaning the petition is under review. Until a decision is made, details remain confidential.
Trump has been active with his pardon power in his second term, having issued pardons for January 6 rioters and, more recently, for two diesel mechanics who pleaded guilty to Clean Air Act violations. A CBS News analysis from Tuesday revealed that Trump’s pardons have forgiven approximately $1.1 billion in restitution owed to crime victims—a stark contrast to the $680,000 forgiven by President Biden, according to a study by the Cato Institute.
McCain’s prediction adds another layer to the ongoing debate over Trump’s use of clemency, which has often been criticized for its breadth and political implications. Whether Holmes will join the list of Trump’s pardons remains to be seen, but her case is now firmly in the public eye.
