ABUSE OF PRESIDENTIAL POWERS?
Let’s Talk about Some of These Screwed Up Pardons!
Perhaps you’ve seen some of the names on the list, 143 in all. You might even know some of the background stories. But let’s dig in a little deeper.
You will notice that some conspicuous names are missing, such as Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, Joe Exotic, the reality TV star from Tiger King (Even though he had a limo sent to pick him up. That must have been embarrassing for him and his cellmates.), and American whistleblower, Edward Snowden.
The reality star Joe Exotic, was quoted as saying, it’s because I’m “too innocent and too GAY.”
Another name you won’t see on the list is Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer. Primarily because he cooperated with Mueller’s investigation — or anyone else who cooperated with Mueller. We’ll get into their stories a little later.
These people talk-the-talk about supporting the Constitution and the country’s justice system until their given the opportunity to get a few of their rich buddies out of jail or make themselves look like something they are not — such as, compassionate toward Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), more on that later.
Just mull the clemency of Michael “Harry-O” Harris (a convicted cocaine trafficker and attempted murderer), Lil Wayne, and Kodak Black over in your mind as we go.
Ken Kurson — Clemency
Take, for example, Ken Kurson, a former Ripple (XRP cryptocurrency) board member and personal friend of Jared Kushner, Presidential advisor, and Ivanka’s husband.
Many of us holding XRP hope Ripple will win their case against the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC); however, Kurson was not convicted and imprisoned because of anything crypto-related.
He was jailed because he cyberstalked, sent threatening emails, and installed a keystroke-monitoring device on his ex-wife’s computer.
Yeah, clemency is not the message we want to send to entitled, abusive men anywhere.
Stephen K. Bannon — Full Pardon
His name and face are very recognizable to anyone familiar with the Trump administration. Convicted of money-laundering, wire fraud, and other conspiracy charges because he used money from the “We Build the Wall” crowdfunding campaign for personal gain.
George Papadopoulos — Full Pardon
Trump’s former advisor was convicted of lying during the Mueller Federal investigation.
Alex van der Zwaan — Full Pardon
Convicted of lying during the Mueller Federal investigation.
Former US Representative Rick Renzi, R-Arizona — Full Pardon
Convicted on charges of bribery, extortion, insurance fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. But yeah, he’s a Republican.
Robert Cannon “Robin” Hayes — Full Pardon
Former National Council of Republican Party and North Carolina Republican Party Chairman was convicted of “making a false statement in a federal investigation.”
Former US Representative Chris Collins (R-NY) — Full Pardon
Convicted of the misuse of nearly $250,000 in campaign funds.
Former US Representative Steve Stockman (R-TX) — 10-Year Sentence Commuted
Convicted of the misuse of charitable funds.
A Common Trait?
Everyone who Mueller convicted, Trump pardoned except those who cooperated with Mueller’s investigation. Hmm.
Senate Judiciary Committee member Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, said, “I doubt government contractors who slaughtered civilians or corrupt Congressional cronies were what the Founders had in mind when they drafted the pardon clause.”
He also lambasted Trump for using his presidential powers to forgive the transgressions of political allies. And stated, “Donald Trump leaves the presidency just as he took it: without a shred of respect for the Constitution and as a complete disgrace to his office.” — CNBC News
Yet, records show Trump was, in fact, stingy with pardons up until the 11th hour. It was shown that he was indeed leaving the White House because not even members of his own party supported his baseless accusations of voter fraud.
The floodgates broke loose on the morning of Biden’s Inauguration.
Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard — Full Pardons
Convicted of murdering 14 Iraqi civilians. Those numbers include two women and two boys, ages 9 and 11.
Dr. Faustino Bernadett — Full Pardon
Convicted for concealing $30 million of the possible $900 million in health care fraud.
Carl Andrews Boggs — Full Pardon
Convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Transportation Department and money-laundering.
Jonathon Braun — Commuted Sentence to Time Served
Importing 2,200 pounds of illegal marijuana and money-laundering.
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (Lil Wayne or Weezy) — Full Pardon
Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm on his private jet after being convicted of a felony.
Paul Erickson — Full Pardon
Pleaded guilty to money laundering and wire fraud as an NRA operative during the Russian election fraud hearing.
Rodney Nakia Gibson — Full Pardon
Convicted of drug trafficking.
George Gilmore — Full Pardon
Convicted of tax evasion and lying on a bank loan application.
Bill K. Kapri or Kodak Black — Full Pardon
Convicted of Federal weapons charges and falsifying registration documents to buy three guns, a 9mm, a .380 piston, and a Mini Draco semi-automatic weapon.
Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick — Clemency
Convicted for racketeering and bribery while Mayor of Detroit. He lost many appeals, would not be heard by the SCOTUS, and President Obama a fellow Democrat refused to grant him clemency.
U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider stated, “My position on the disgraced former mayor of Detroit has not changed. Kwame Kilpatrick has earned every day he served in federal prison for the horrible crimes he committed against the people of Detroit, he is a notorious and unrepentant criminal.”
Salomon Melgen — Commuted Sentence
Convicted of Medicare fraud.
Jon Harder — Commuted Sentence
Convicted of misusing investment funds gathered for a senior care facility.
Aviem Sella — Full Pardon
Convicted of gathering US Intel for the Israeli government. Yeah, we’re allies.
David Tamman — Full Pardon
Convicted of ten counts of fraud, altering records, and obstruction of justice in a federal investigation involving a Ponzi scheme that defrauded “investors” of $22 million. The rich get richer and then pardoned for their crimes — while those who invested their life savings lost everything. Thanks for making this type of behavior OK.
Monstsho Eugene Vernon — Sentence Commuted
Convicted of several counts of bank robbery.
Jerry Donnell Walden — Commuted Sentence
Possession and distribution of cocaine.
Eliyahu Weinstein — Full Pardon
Convicted to 24 years in prison for money laundering and real estate investment fraud.
Jawad A. Musa — Commuted Sentence
Serving a life sentence for a non-violent drug-related conviction. WTF were they thinking? Actually, the DA and judge in his case requested clemency. I would really like to know the story behind this one. But that’s another story for another day.
Michael Liberty — Full Pardon
Convicted for 2016 campaign finance fraud and related violations.
Shalom Weiss — Sentence Commuted
Convicted for insurance fraud and sentenced to 835 years in prison. That must have been particularly heinous to get an 835-year sentence.
Ferrell Damon Scott — Sentence Commuted
Another serving life for possession and distribution of marijuana.
Jaime A. Davidson — Full Pardon
Convicted to life imprisonment for the shooting of an off-duty police officer. Many of those who testified against him have since renounced that testimony and the real shooter has already been convicted, served time, and was released.
John Knock — Commuted Sentence
A first offender convicted to life in prison for non-violent possession of marijuana. Mr. Knock had served 24 years. Seriously? WTF? Several people pardoned were serving life for marijuana possession. Isn’t it time to legalize marijuana possession nationally?
This one should make sense to everyone — along with all the non-violent drug possession pardons and sentence commutations. However, it should accompany nationally legalized possession of marijuana.
If It’s Not Right, Change It for Everyone!
What’s more, many of Mr. Trump’s pardons and commuted sentences more closely align with the First Step Act, which makes the punishment for a first-time, non-violent drug offender a ten-year mandatory minimum.
Should that apply to everyone convicted previously to more than ten years? Should their sentences be automatically commuted to ten years? That’s certainly something that should be looked at closely.
I personally believe that possession of drugs should be a medical issue, not a criminal offense. Imprisonment usually does more harm than good for addicts. However, I think that should be across the board, not because you have powerful friends to intervene on your behalf.
However, he had the chance to do the right thing for Edward Snowden and Julian Assange and chose not to do it.
These are only some of the pardons, commuted sentences, and clemencies extended by the former President. Duplicate crimes and similar conditions were skipped in the interest of brevity.
Stephen Dalton is a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland and a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Top Writer in Fiction, Short Story, VR, NFL, Design, & Creativity. Editor of Pop Off, Top Dalton’s Blog, 100WordStory, B.O.S.S., and SportsShorts100WordsOnly
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