Just The News: President Trump pardoned former White House adviser Steve Bannon, several ex-congressman and two high profile rappers in a final wave of clemency and commutations as he left office.
The White House released the list of 73 pardons and 70 commutations early Wednesday morning, and it did not include Trump himself, any family members or his attorney Rudy Giuliani as some had speculated.
Many of the recipients were everyday citizens convicted of drug offenses who had turned their lives around, including one whose pardon was advocated by the very judge who sent the man to prison.
The list also included some celebrities like rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both of whom were prosecuted on federal weapons charges, former professional sports gambler William “Billy” Walters and Democratic Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, whose 28-year prison term for corruption was commuted by Trump.
Walters, whose sentenced was commuted, was the subject of a Just the News investigative project last year highlighting abuses and leaks by the FBI during his insider trading case. His clemency had widespread bipartisan support ranging from former Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid to ex-NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik.
At least three former congressmen — Rick Renzi, Randall “Duke” Cunningham and Robin Hayes — also received clemency. more
The new occupant of the White House already has taken the list down, asshole.
Well, at least one of his minions who knows what a computer is.
The power of the pardon by any POTUS and those that receive pardons has always been called into question, at least in modern times.
It was a power that should have never been given to begin with. It’s the sewer system on the outskirts of the Swamp.
I guess the real intent was the fear of political prisoners?
I truly wished he had pardoned Assange. He was the one effective weapon against the Silicon Valley demigods.
He knows the sneaky and subversive actions they’ve taken to slither their way into government where their influence is now omnipresent.
@gin blossom: Assange AND Snowden. Two of the main reasons why Trump was elected to begin with, IMHO.
Kwayme really confuses me. Did Trump maybe make a deal to get the fake clown in the people’s house unlawfully to lay off him and his circle?
I trust his judgement, but the failure to pardon Assange and Snowden has me stumped. What am I missing?
@Vietvet
Snowden fled to China and then Russia, I’m not to comfortable with him. Just my view.
Brown Eyed Girl: “I trust his judgement, but the failure to pardon Assange and Snowden has me stumped. What am I missing?”
Big League Politics
“Report: Senate Republicans Threaten President Trump with Impeachment to Prevent Him From Pardoning Assange, Snowden”
https://bigleaguepolitics.com/report-senate-republicans-threaten-president-trump-with-impeachment-to-prevent-him-from-pardoning-assange-snowden/
I would have told Trump to fuck the GOP and do it anyways, but now it’s too late.
As gin blossom said.
Anyway, Snowden has Russian citizenship (I believe) and eventually, Assange will, too.
I’m not a fan of weed. But, how are you going to put someone in prison for life for it?
Oh btw, the FBI said Senator Burr is free, too. He’ll have plenty of time to talk about stocks with Kelly Loeffler now.
Bitches.
@gin blossom (at 8:15 pm): Snowden didn’t flee to China. He went to Hong Kong so he could meet secretly with journalists and turn over his whistleblower material to them. Nor did he flee to Russia. His intent was to go to Ecuador via Moscow, but he wound up being stranded there when the U.S. Government canceled his passport. After being refused asylum by 27 nations (probably because of U.S. pressure), he and his family were forced to settle in Russia.
Here’s his account:
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/19/761918152/exiled-nsa-contractor-edward-snowden-i-haven-t-and-i-won-t-cooperate-with-russia
The list is acceptable, except for former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick: the guy was a complete crook, as criminal as biden, and as brazen.
@Vietvet
I somewhat recall his escape route but there’s just no way he withheld the info he was carrying to the secret police of China/Russia that I’m sure were tracing his moves.
Hey, OK I’ll agree, let Snowden out free too. Anything he’s done pales in comparison to the thugs in office.
@gin blossom (at 10:43 pm): You mean the info he had already turned over to the journalists in Hong Kong to be published? All the Russians had to do was read it in the newspapers after that.
🙂
Vietvet
See above!
@gin blossom: For some reason I tend to believe Snowden more than I believe the government agencies who are trying to paint him as a traitor. Could it be because they’ve proven themselves to be conniving, self-serving liars in the past?
Naw, I’m sure it couldn’t be that.
/sarc off/