All articles tagged with #pardons
Andrew Johnson, a Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by President Trump, is slated to stand trial in Florida on child-molestation charges, accused of abusing a minor over months and attempting to silence the victim with a payout; he previously pled guilty in the Jan. 6 case and was sentenced to a year in prison before being pardoned, now facing new charges with a Feb. 9 trial date.
Trump has dramatically expanded federal clemency in his second term, issuing a large number of pardons and commutations—including a second pardon for Adriana Camberos in a separate case—and rolling out a sweeping set of pardons tied to January 6 and other political allies. His pace far exceeds that of Biden or Obama, aided by a dedicated pardon czar, Alice Marie Johnson. The clemency power applies only to federal charges, with pardons erasing convictions and commutations reducing sentences.
A new round of presidential pardons from Donald Trump includes a repeat offender, underscoring the ongoing use of clemency in his administration.
President Trump plans to pardon Wanda Vázquez Garced, the former Puerto Rico governor who pleaded guilty in a federal public-corruption case, along with co-defendants Julio Herrera-Velutini and Mark Rossini. The trio pleaded to lesser charges after a late-stage deal, with defense attorney Chris Kise helping broker the agreement. Trump has argued the investigation was politically motivated and has previously pardoned other defendants prosecuted by the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, which has been largely dismantled.
Five years after the Capitol attack, pardoned rioters gathered in Washington to commemorate the event, praise Trump, and demand further action such as restitution and prison reform, while facing mixed reactions and ongoing polarization.
Five years after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, officers who defended the building are still grappling with injuries, trauma, and efforts to downplay the violence, especially after President Trump pardoned many rioters, including those who injured officers. The officers face challenges in public perception and political narratives, but have also seen improvements in police support and safety measures.
President Trump claimed that Biden's autopen-signed measures are invalid and could nullify his actions, but legal experts state that a president cannot rescind a predecessor's decisions through this method. Trump has criticized Biden's use of autopen, which Biden confirmed he used for late-stage pardons, but there is no legal basis for Trump's claims. The White House has not responded to whether Trump plans legal action.
Donald Trump announced he is nullifying all documents signed by Joe Biden using an autopen, claiming they are invalid, although legal experts agree that autopen signatures are legally binding and there is no legal mechanism to overturn pardons based on autopen use. This move is an unprecedented challenge to Biden's actions, but its legal basis is highly questionable.
President Trump issued nearly 80 pardons to individuals involved in the 2020 election and other legal cases, including notable donors and allies such as Rudy Giuliani, George Santos, and Binance founder CZ Zhao, with some recipients having contributed significant political donations, and others benefiting from pardons related to financial or legal controversies.
President Trump issued pardons to 77 individuals, including Giuliani, Meadows, and Sidney Powell, related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, though none were charged with federal crimes; the pardons are largely symbolic and do not include himself.
This week in US politics, President Trump faced setbacks with election results favoring Democrats, ongoing legal and policy controversies including pardons for former officials, threats of military action, and issues related to the government shutdown and immigration enforcement, highlighting a turbulent political landscape.
President Trump pardoned Darryl Strawberry, a former New York Mets player who pleaded guilty in 1995 to failing to report $350,000 in income from autographs and memorabilia sales.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was seen chatting and smiling with former NBA player Sebastian Telfair, both incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix, as they seek presidential pardons; their interaction highlights celebrity presence even in prison.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is reviewing the Biden administration's use of an autopen for signing pardons after a House report questioned their validity, amid political disputes over the legality and transparency of autopen-signed executive actions. The report claims some pardons may lack proper approval, but legal scholars argue autopen use is constitutionally permissible, and Democrats defend Biden's actions as authorized. The investigation has sparked partisan debate on presidential signing practices.
The GOP-led House Oversight Committee released a report claiming President Biden's pardons signed via autopen are 'void' due to concerns over his cognitive state and lack of proper decision-making records, prompting calls for further investigation and potential legal action against his aides.