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Wednesday 02 December 2020
Last week, Donald Trump pardoned his former security adviser Michael Flynn. Shortly before the end of the term of the President of the United States, it is now known that the judiciary is investigating allegations of corruption in connection with possible pardons.
Bribery for a possible pardon from the president of the United States? Shortly before the end of Donald Trump’s term, the US judiciary is investigating a case related to this suspicion. Who could be involved in the possible crime does not emerge from a 20-page court document that a federal court in Washington has now released. The names and much of the document have been crossed out. Trump wrote on Twitter that the investigation was “fake news.” No charges have yet been filed in the case. The President of the United States has almost unlimited powers under the Constitution to grant pardons at the federal level.
In the now partially released document from late August, Federal Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled, among other things, that more than 50 seized digital storage media are not covered by protected communication between an attorney and his client. Investigators can evaluate these storage media, including smartphones, laptops, and USB sticks, and confront the defendant with the results. Investigators suspect an intrigue based on the principle of “bribery for pardon.” Republican Trump could still pardon several people before his term ends on January 20. Former presidents like Barack Obama made use of this right until the last day in office.
Preventive family pardons?
The “New York Times” now reports that Trump has already spoken with advisers about “preventive pardons” for his three oldest children, Donald Trump Junior, Eric and Ivanka Trump, and his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner. Trump has expressed concern to his advisers that future US President Joe Biden’s Justice Department may “retaliate.” However, Biden recently said that, unlike Trump, he would not use the Justice Department to investigate his political opponent. The US media also reported that Trump had spoken with his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani about his clemency.
Last week, Trump pardoned his former National Security adviser Michael Flynn, exposing himself to abuse of power. Retired General Flynn became embroiled in the issue of Russian influence during the 2016 US presidential election. Republican Trump could pardon more people before his term ends on January 20. Former presidents such as Democrat Barack Obama exercised this right until the last day of their mandate.
Flynn had only served a little over three weeks as a national security adviser in the White House in 2017. He later admitted in the course of the investigation into the Russia affair that he had lied to the FBI. He is also said to have lied to Vice President Mike Pence. Flynn pleaded guilty to the investigation by FBI Special Investigator Robert Mueller. In January, Flynn decided to withdraw his confession shortly before a verdict was expected.
In May, the Justice Ministry called for an end to the proceedings in a very unusual step. One was not convinced that Flynn’s hearing in January 2017 was based on a legitimate investigation, he said, among other things. Trump later celebrated Flynn as a “hero.” The case was caught in a federal court after the controversial advance of the Ministry of Justice. The responsible judge did not agree to drop the charges against Flynn.
After being ousted from office, Trump is president with all rights until January 20, and there are still some convicts among his allies who can wait for his intervention. These include his 2016 election campaign advisers Rick Gates and George Papadopoulos, who, like Flynn, had been convicted in connection with the Russia investigations. In Washington, there is also speculation that Trump could also try to forgive himself for possible violations of the law at the federal level.
