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The US Department of Justice is investigating the suspicion that presidential pardons may have been granted as a result of bribery.
The president talks about the recent investigation of the US judiciary on “Fake News”: Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump. (File image)
Reuters
Shortly before Donald Trump’s term ends, the United States judiciary is investigating a suspicion of whether the president has granted clemency for bribery. Federal prosecutors in Washington said Tuesday they had received evidence of a bribery scheme in which someone “would make a significant contribution in exchange for a presidential pardon or pardon.” Who could potentially be involved in the possible crime is unclear from the 20-page court document released by the federal court in Washington. About half of the document is crossed out. The Justice Department said no government official was or was not the target of the investigation. Trump wrote on Twitter that the investigation was “fake news.”
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.” In any event, so far no charges have been filed in the case.
“Preventive forgiveness” of your children?
Under the Constitution of the United States, presidents have a great deal of leeway to pardon those convicted of federal crimes. Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn last week. He had pleaded guilty to the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election for lying to the FBI Federal Police.
Republican Trump could still pardon several 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.
The “New York Times” reported Tuesday that Trump had spoken to 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 had expressed concern to his advisers that the Justice Department of future US President Joe Biden might “retaliate.” 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.
