CINCINNATI — Former Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor is seeking a presidential pardon to allow him to restart his professional life and possibly resume a political career after his arrest for public corruption five years ago.

Since leaving prison in December 2024, Pastor has led a private life with his wife, Tara, and six children.

I've been covering Pastor since his election in 2017. He spoke to me in his first public interview since his release.

“America is built on redemption stories,” Pastor said. “It seems to me that America doesn’t need a perfect leader; they just need a leader who has been humble and been through the fire. Don’t focus on a person’s ashes; focus on what they’ve done.”

Pastor won the ninth and final council seat by just 223 votes , winning the election to

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