Again and again in Donald Trump’s Washington, it’s about who you know.
That was the case Wednesday night with the President’s latest wave of pardons as he prepares to leave the White House. Most everyone on the list either had a connection to the Big Man themselves or friends in high places willing to make their case.
In that sense, Wednesday’s list was much the same as Tuesday’s before it, accompanied by a White House statement chock full of Republican congressmen and television stars vouching for their friends or favored causes.
But as Trump progressed toward Christmas, the names got bigger: Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared; former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and key confidante Roger Stone, both Russia probe cases; Margaret Hunter, whose husband former Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) Trump had pardoned the day prior.
Charles Kushner, Paul Manafort: A look at the 29 people President Trump pardoned or gave commutations
Updated Dec 24, 2020;
By Michael Balsamo | The Associated Press
For a second night in a row, President Donald Trump issued a round of pardons and commutations in the final weeks of his presidency, giving full pardons to his former campaign chairman, his son-in-law’s father and another of his allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
The list also included people whose pleas for forgiveness have been promoted by those supporting the president throughout his term in office, including conservative media personalities and Republican lawmakers.
Pardons and commutations: A look at all 29 of the people Trump forgave
They include his own advisers, a Border Patrol agent, a Palm Beach County commissioner and a Miami pool cleaner.
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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base on Wednesday. Trump is spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. [ PATRICK SEMANSKY | AP ]
Published Dec. 24, 2020
WASHINGTON â For a second night in a row, President Donald Trump issued a round of pardons and commutations in the final weeks of his presidency, giving full pardons to his former campaign chairman, his son-in-lawâs father and another of his allies convicted in special counsel Robert Muellerâs investigation.
Russian collusion was a fantasy : George Papadopoulos blasts Mueller probe for setting traps for Trump campaign and says we still need answers on how the investigation started after being pardoned by the president
Former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos appeared on Fox News on Wednesday night, a day after receiving a presidential pardon
He thanked Trump before railing against his conviction and the Mueller report Russian collusion was a fantasy he claimed as he accused ‘the Obama administration’s intel agencies’ of targeting him
Papadopoulos also alleged that the Mueller investigators had ‘set various traps’ for him and other Trump campaign aides