The pardons of the ex-contractors involved in the killings of Iraqi civilians drew rebukes from civil rights groups in particular. The executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group, called it an unconscionable act of moral insanity.
The four ex-contractors worked for Blackwater, a firm founded by Erik Prince, one of Trump s allies and the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos The idea of the pardon power is really to address injustice and to either right wrongs or show mercy when that’s appropriate, said Noah Bookbinder, executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
ADVERTISEMENT Not at all Nicolle, and in fact, at the end of it, I made a decision back in 2016 that the choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton
Christie said he was critical of the way Trump has spoken about current and former law enforcement officials such as former Attorney General Jeff Sessions
During an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt this week, Christie said he has not ruled out a run for president in 2024 and explained his role in helping Trump prepare for debates this fall against President-elect Joe Biden The last bit of advice, you know, I was in the Oval Office with him, and he’s getting ready to leave for the debate. And he said to me, you get one last shot, Christie said. And I said let Joe Biden talk. If you let him talk, he will hurt himself. And he gave me a thumbs-up, and he walked out of the Oval Office. And he interrupted him 71 times in 90 minutes. So no, he didn’t, that was not the debate I advised him to have.
“@johnthune is a friend of mine, and I will not be challenging him,” Noem tweeted Tuesday night. “I’m honored to be Governor of South Dakota and will ask the people to give me an opportunity to continue serving them as Governor in 2022.”
.@johnthune is a friend of mine, and I will not be challenging him. I’m honored to be Governor of South Dakota and will ask the people to give me an opportunity to continue serving them as Governor in 2022. Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) December 22, 2020
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Noem is both a vocal ally of the president’s and considered a possible contender for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024. In addition to a prime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention, she joined Trump at a Fourth of July event at Mt. Rushmore this year.
However, Smerconish responded by saying he believed Cuomo and Scaramucci were “underestimating the president.”
“I don’t think the perception of him being ‘the Grinch Who Stole Christmas’ is accurate,” Smerconish continued. “I think this is the arguably, politically speaking, the most effective thing that he has done since losing the election.”
“It is him, frankly, laying back on those arguments that first put him in office, that he’s the champion of a working person and he wants two grand in everybody’s pocket,” the television and radio host continued. “I think it’s very effective for him.”
Cuomo then said that while he agreed with this analysis, he said there is a cost if Trump delays signing the bill.
I’m in, he tweeted early Wednesday in response to a post from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Whaddya say, Mitch? Schumer asked, referring to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
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I’m in. Whaddya say, Mitch? Let’s not get bogged down with ideological offsets and unrelated items and just DO THIS! The American people deserve it. @senatemajldrhttps://t.co/L1b5rUkc7h Chuck Schumer
On Tuesday night, Trump called the bill, which passed both chambers of Congress this week and includes $600 in direct payments, a disgrace, saying that amount was not enough money and complaining too little is given to small businesses, and in particular restaurants, whose owners have suffered so grievously.