U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a late flurry of clemency action benefiting nearly 150 people, including rap stars and former members of Congress.
White House on Wednesday said that outgoing President Donald Trump has pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon, just before he was due to leave the office.
However, Trump did not pardon himself, members of his family or lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
Trump leaves office on Wednesday when Joe Biden is sworn in as the nation's next president. White House officials had argued to Trump that he should not pardon himself or his family because it might look like they are guilty of crimes, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Donald Trump grants clemency to 144 people (not himself or family members) in final hours Kevin Johnson, David Jackson and Dennis Wagner, USA TODAY
President Trump grants clemency to 148 people, but not for himself or his family
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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly used his clemency authority as a political tool rather than an act of mercy, issued a final wave of pardons and commutations during his final hours in office, delivering relief for a mix of beneficiaries that included former strategist Steve Bannon, Republican Party and Trump fundraiser Elliott Broidy and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, found guilty in 2013 of corruption charges.