Trump pardons Paul Manafort and Roger Stone who were convicted in the Russia investigation | US News



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Donald Trump has pardoned his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, while continuing to offer clemency to convicted associates in the Russia investigation.

Trump also pardoned his former adviser Roger Stone and real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, on Wednesday.

Manafort, 70 years old, he had been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine.

He was also one of the first people charged as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the links between the 2016 Trump election campaign and Russia.

Roger Stone was convicted in connection with the Russia investigation
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Roger Stone was convicted in connection with the Russia investigation
Charles Kushner, center, is the father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared
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Charles Kushner, center, is the father of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared

The presidential pardon means that you have been spared most of your prison sentence.

Manafort thanked Trump in a tweet and later claimed that history would show that he had accomplished more than any of his predecessors.

Stone, 67, had been sentenced in February for lying to Congress, tampering with witnesses and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.

Trump commuted his sentence in July, a day before Stone began serving a three-year, four-month sentence.

The president has now pardoned four people convicted in the Russia investigation, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, who both pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Kushner, who was not convicted in connection with the Russia investigation, had been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to 18 counts of tax evasion in 2004.

He also pleaded guilty to witnessing tampering and illegal campaign donations.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 7: Former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos arrives with his wife Simona Mangiante at the United States District Court for his sentencing hearing on September 7, 2018 in Washington, DC.  Papadopoulos pleaded guilty last year to making a
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George Papadopoulos has been pardoned after admitting to lying to the FBI
Donald Trump and retired General Michael Flynn during the 2016 election campaign
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Donald Trump and retired General Michael Flynn during the 2016 election campaign

Trump and Father Kushner knew each other in real estate circles, and their sons married in 2009.

The outgoing US president granted full pardons to 26 people and commuted part or all of the sentences of three other people on Wednesday.

Trump has now granted clemency to nearly 50 people, either by pardoning them or commuting their sentences.



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