Stern is a retired journalist and was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team which broke the Cunningham story for The San Diego Union-Tribune. He lives in Parkland, Florida.
When disgraced former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham left prison in 2013, he wrote to the San Diego judge who presided over his case, asking him to restore his gun rights, which he’d forfeited as a convicted felon.
Judge Larry Burns wrote back, explaining he didn’t have that authority.
Now, thanks to a partial pardon hastily issued by then-President Donald Trump as he departed the White House on Jan. 20, the former San Diego congressman and onetime war hero once again enjoys his long-sought right to own a gun.
POLITICO
The Real Scandal Is the Pardon Trump Didn’t Give
Rufus Rochell checked all the right boxes for clemency: an exemplary record in prison, advocacy out of it, and a friendship with a famous Trump booster. So why didn’t he get it?
Rufus Rochelle, 69, stands in the front yard of his sister s home in Micanopy, Florida. Rochelle lives with his sister as he serves the remainder of his sentence on house arrest. | A. Wallace for Politico Magazine
Link Copied
As the clock ticked down on the last night of Donald Trump’s presidency, Rufus Rochell anxiously checked Facebook from inside his sister’s home.
Florida businessman convicted of $1BILLION Medicare fraud spent NYE dancing at his daughter s wedding days after Trump commuted his 20-year prison sentence citing his declining health
Philip Esformes was among the slew of convicts pardoned by President Trump in the final days of his presidency
Esformes, 51, was convicted on 20 criminal counts in a $1billion Medicare fraud scheme in 2019
The healthcare executive was sentenced to 20 years in prison but only served 4
White House claimed the move had been supported by a number of former attorneys general and said Esformes is in declining health
Just days after his release, Esformes spent New Year s Eve dancing at his daughter Serena s wedding held in his backyard
Two Texans serving long prison sentences for drug crimes are among those whose terms Trump commuted
James Cruz was convicted in 2001 for his role in a meth-distribution conspiracy; Ferrell Scott was serving life for shipping large amounts of marijuana.
Revised to include information about Ferrell Scott, whose sentence was commuted.
Among former President Donald Trump’s final actions in the Oval Office was commuting the sentences of two Texans serving long prison sentences on federal drug charges.
James Brian Cruz
James Brian Cruz was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with at least six others in 2001. Redactions in a federal indictment and sealed documents make Cruz’s role in the scheme unclear.