01-20-2021
President Donald Trump speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. while traveling to Texas on Jan. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
In the final hours of his presidency, President Donald Trump granted pardons to 73 people and commuted the sentences of 70 other individuals.
The White House announced the final flurry of pardons and commutations Wednesday morning. The list includes many of his loyalists, including former campaign strategist Steve Bannon, Republican fundraiser Eliot Broidy, and Paul Erickson. Recipients also include rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, who were convicted on weapons-related charges.
Many of the pardons and commutations were given to non-violent drug offenders, including a former Marine who was sentenced in 2002 in connection with a cocaine conviction. The most notable name on the list is Bannon, who is charged with allegedly siphoning more than $1 million from donors supporting a fundraising projec
In addition, President Trump commuted the sentences to time served for the following individuals: Jeff Cheney, Marquis Dargon, Jennings Gilbert, Dwayne L. Harrison, Reginald Dinez Johnson, Sharon King, and Hector Madrigal, Sr.
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.