The president’s new list of pardons and commutations comes
just weeks after he pardoned dozens of other allies, including his friend and
confidant Roger Stone, his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, and Charles
Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared. Other allies of Trump who have
received pardons in the final weeks of his presidency include former campaignadviser George Papadopoulos and lawyer Alex van der Zwaan, who both pleaded
guilty to lying to the FBI during special counsel Robert Mueller’s
investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), chair of the House Intelligence
Committee, denounced Trump’s decision to pardon Manafort, calling the president
“lawless until the bitter end.”
During the Mueller investigation, Trump’s lawyer floated a pardon to Manafort.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 24, 2020
Manafort withdrew his cooperation with prosecutors, lied, was convicted, and then Trump praised him for not “ratting.”
Trump’s pardon now completes the corrupt scheme.
Lawless until the bitter end.
Along with Trump’s pardoning of corrupt, criminally convicted political allies, the president granted perhaps his most shocking pardons on Dec. 22 for the four former Blackwater security contractors involved in the killings of more than a dozen unarmed Iraqi civilians in 2007.
The 14
civilians who were killed included a medical student and his mother, as well as
a man whose arms were raised when Blackwater agents opened fire on him,
according to U.S. federal prosecutors. Others were killed as Blackwater agents
fired on their vehicles while they attempted to flee, according to The WashingtonPost.
Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard
were convicted on murder and manslaughter charges in 2014 after a monthslong
trial in federal court in Washington. After they received their pardons, Faris
Fadel, the brother of slain Iraqi civilian Osama Abbas, called Trump’s decision“unfair.”
“This decision was wrong, it was unfair,” Fadel said. “How
can you release those who have blood on their hands?”
Also pardoned Tuesday night was rapper Lil Wayne, full name
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
Trump granted him full pardon. Mr. Carter had pleaded guilty
to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, owing to a
conviction over 10 years ago.
According to the pardon statement: “Brett Berish of
Sovereign Brands, who supports a pardon for Mr. Carter, describes him as
“trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous.”
“Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through commitment
to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host
of foodbanks. Deion Sanders, who also wrote in support of this pardon, calls
Mr. Wayne “a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a
natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game changer.”
Also on the pardon list is a former Google engineer
sentenced for stealing a trade secret on self-driving cars months before he
briefly headed Uber Technologies Inc’s rival unit.
Anthony Levandowski, 40, was sentenced in August to 18
months in prison after pleading guilty in March. He was not in custody but a
judge had said he could enter custody once the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.
The White House said Levandowski was “an American
entrepreneur who led Google’s efforts to create self-driving technology.”
The statement added he had “paid a significant price for his
actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good.” Alphabet
Inc’s Google did not immediately comment.
Levandowski transferred more than 14,000 Google files,
including development schedules and product designs, to his personal laptop
before he left, and while negotiating a deal with Uber, where he briefly led
its self-driving car unit.
The former mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick also has
his prison term commuted.
Mr. Kilpatrick has served approximately 7 years in prison
for his role in a racketeering and bribery scheme while he held public office.
“This commutation is strongly supported by prominent members
of the Detroit community, Alveda King, Alice Johnson, Diamond and Silk, Pastor
Paula White, Peter Karmanos, Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo of the Michigan
House of Representatives, Representative Karen Whitsett of the Michigan House
of Representatives, and more than 30 faith leaders.
“During his incarceration, Mr. Kilpatrick has taught public
speaking classes and has led Bible Study groups with his fellow inmates”, the
statement said.
Among the beneficiaries of the clemency is also Stephen K. Bannon, Trump’s friend.
He was granted full pardon.
“Prosecutors pursued Mr. Bannon with charges related to fraud stemming from his involvement in a political project. Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen”, the pardon statement said.
Read the full list of pardons here
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