Pierre, SD, USA / DRGNews
Jan 20, 2021 8:27 AM
Just hours before he left office, President Donald J. Trump signed pardons for three South Dakotans. He issued pardons to John Nystrom; Gregory, Deborah, and Martin Jorgensen (posthumously); and Jessica “Jessi” Frease.
“I am tremendously thankful to President Trump for his support of these three pardons,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “The Trump administration has done an excellent job balancing justice with forgiveness, and tonight’s (Jan. 19, 2021) pardons will provide these individuals with a second chance to continue as productive members of our South Dakota community.”
Governor Noem advocated for these presidential pardons with letters to President Trump. You can read her letter regarding the Nystrom pardon here, the Jorgensen pardon here, and the Frease pardon here. Governor Noem also secured additional support from relevant community leaders.
A Google engineer who stole 14,000 files of trade secrets on self-driving cars before going to work for Uber has been pardoned by President Trump.
Anthony Levandowski, 40, was sentenced to 18 months in prison last August for what a judge called the biggest trade secret crime I have ever seen , although he was not yet in custody.
He was one of 73 people pardoned by Trump on his final day in office, with the White House describing him as a brilliant engineer with talents needed by the country. Mr Levandowski has paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good, the White House said.