WGO Urges President Trump to Pardon Patrick “Tate” Adamiak

WGO Staff | June 3, 2026

Wisconsin Gun Owners (WGO) Launches Campaign Seeking Presidential Pardon for Former Navy sailor.

WAUPACA, Wis. — Wisconsin Gun Owners is launching a statewide grassroots campaign urging President Donald Trump to grant a presidential pardon to Patrick “Tate” Adamiak, a former U.S. Navy sailor serving a 20-year federal prison sentence in a firearms-related case that has drawn significant attention from Second Amendment advocates.

The organization announced plans to create an online action center designed to mobilize gun owners in Wisconsin and across the country to contact the White House and support clemency for Adamiak, whose legal appeals have largely been exhausted.

According to Wisconsin Gun Owners, the project will include online petitions, email advocacy tools, social media outreach and educational materials focused on Adamiak’s case. The organization is seeking donations from its members and supporters to fund the effort.

“We believe this case represents a serious miscarriage of justice and highlights broader concerns about federal firearms enforcement,” said Corey Graff, executive director of Wisconsin Gun Owners. “With the courts no longer providing a viable path to relief, a presidential pardon may be Tate’s last realistic opportunity to regain his freedom.”

Adamiak was arrested in 2022 and later convicted on federal charges involving machine guns and unregistered firearms under the National Firearms Act. Federal authorities alleged that he possessed and transferred prohibited firearms and related devices.

According to court records, a jury found Adamiak guilty on multiple counts, including possession of unregistered firearms and unlawful possession and transfer of a machine gun. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors argued that Adamiak possessed a collection of weapons and military devices that violated federal firearms laws. Authorities claimed to have recovered machine guns, grenade launchers and anti-tank weapon launchers during their investigation, according to public court filings.

Supporters of Adamiak dispute the government’s characterization of the evidence and argue that many of the items involved were collectibles, inert military artifacts or firearm parts that were not functioning weapons.

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Gun-rights advocates have also alleged that federal regulators and prosecutors stretched legal definitions in pursuing the case. Some have argued that the prosecution reflected a broader trend of aggressive enforcement actions by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives during the administration of former President Joe Biden.

Those claims have become a rallying point among gun-rights organizations like WGO, which contend that federal agencies have increasingly relied on changing regulatory interpretations to target law-abiding firearms owners and collectors.

“The concern isn’t just about one individual,” said Graff. “It’s about whether ordinary Americans can be subjected to criminal penalties when government agencies change definitions or reinterpret regulations after the fact.”

The campaign comes as gun-rights groups continue pressing the Trump administration to reverse what they describe as politically motivated firearms policies enacted under Biden.

WGO plans to distribute petitions calling on Trump to pardon Adamiak and to review the actions of federal agencies involved in the case. The organization is also encouraging supporters to contact the White House directly.

Advocates argue that granting clemency would send a signal that the federal government is committed to ending what they describe as the weaponization of regulatory agencies against gun owners.

The push gained additional urgency after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Adamiak’s appeal, leaving intact lower court rulings that upheld his conviction and sentence.

With the judicial process largely complete, supporters believe executive clemency represents one of the few remaining avenues available.

Presidential pardons have long served as a mechanism for correcting perceived injustices or granting mercy in exceptional cases. The Constitution grants the president broad authority to issue pardons for federal offenses.

Whether Adamiak’s case will ultimately receive consideration from the White House remains unclear.

The campaign reflects broader tensions surrounding federal firearms regulations and the role of agencies such as the ATF in enforcing them.

Gun-rights organizations have increasingly criticized what they view as regulatory overreach, particularly in cases involving firearm accessories, unfinished firearm components and collectible military items. Advocates argue that unclear regulations can leave otherwise law-abiding citizens vulnerable to prosecution.

The debate has intensified in recent years as courts, lawmakers and regulatory agencies continue to grapple with questions surrounding the scope of federal firearms laws and the limits of administrative authority.

For Wisconsin Gun Owners, the Adamiak case has become a symbol of those broader concerns.

The organization says its proposed online action center will serve as a hub for supporters seeking updates on the case and opportunities to participate in advocacy efforts. Organizers hope the campaign will generate thousands of contacts to the White House and increase public awareness of the issues they believe are at stake.

“This is ultimately about due process, government accountability and protecting constitutional rights,” Graff said. “Whether someone agrees with every aspect of the case or not, we believe Americans should be concerned whenever there are serious questions about how federal power is being exercised.”

As the campaign moves forward, WGO supporters are expected to continue lobbying elected officials and urging the administration to consider clemency.

For now, Wisconsin Gun Owners is focused on raising the funds needed to launch its advocacy platform and collecting signatures from individuals who believe Adamiak deserves another review of his case.

The organization’s message is straightforward: after the courts declined to intervene, they believe the responsibility now rests with the president.

Whether that effort succeeds may depend on how much attention the campaign can generate in the weeks and months ahead.