Amid reports from the U.S. Department of Justice investigating a possible presidential pardon bribery scheme, President Donald Trump is expected to use his clemency power to pardon or commute the sentences of his allies before leaving office. Last month, Trump pardoned former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about contacts with the Russian ambassador in Washington.
Calling Flynn “an innocent man,” the White House said in a statement that he should never have been prosecuted. He described the retired three-star lieutenant general of the US Army as the “victim of partisan government officials who participated in a coordinated attempt to subvert the 2016 election.” As of Nov. 26, Trump has granted clemency 45 times, including 29 pardons and 16 commutations, which is the lowest of any U.S. president since William McKinley.
While Trump has used his expansive power less often than any other president in modern history, a CNN report suggests the outgoing commander-in-chief could stretch power to save his allies, as well as family members, of future prosecutions, even though I have not been charged with any crime.
Here’s the list of key people Trump might be considering pardoning in the coming days:
Donald Trump: In June 2018, Trump made it clear in a tweet that he came up with the idea of forgiving himself, stating that he has the “absolute right” to forgive himself. “As numerous lawyers have said, I have the absolute right to FORGIVE ME, but why would I do that if I have done nothing wrong?” Trump tweeted.
Rudy Giuliani: Trump’s personal attorney allegedly sought information on Joe Biden from foreign governments, particularly Ukraine, on a quid-pro-quo. During Trump’s impeachment hearings, US envoy Gordon Sondland had testified that Trump and Giuliani were seeking a ‘quid pro quo’ with Ukraine. The Trump administration is accused of withholding $ 400 million in military aid to Ukraine and pressuring the country to launch an investigation into Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Read also | How Trump compares to other US presidents on pardons and commutations
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner: The couple worked in the Trump campaigns and in the White House in advisory roles. Ivanka has been repeatedly accused of a conflict of interest while serving as an adviser to the White House. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has been investigating the finances of the Trump Organization and the Trump family’s real estate business for a criminal investigation. However, there is still little clarity on the full scope of the Trump children’s involvement and activities.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump: They helped Trump with his campaigns and ran his business. In October, Eric Trump testified as part of an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James into the Trump Organization. In 2019, Trump had to pay $ 2 million in damages after a New York judge ordered him for embezzlement of funds from his tax-exempt charity to fund his political campaign in 2016. James sued him for using Foundation funds Donald J. Trump. which closed in 2018, for personal gain.
Paul Manafort: The former Trump campaign chairman has been jailed for financial crimes as part of the Russia investigation. The longtime Republican Party campaign consultant is a convicted tax and banking scammer.
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