Donald Trump went on a pardon spree yesterday commuting sentences and pardoning others. Looking at who Trump is pardoning clearly shows that Donald Trump is about corruption.
Not only is he destroying the Justice Department, under mining his prosecutors but he is also stating to the American people that if you want to steal from investors, misuse public offices for personal gain or steal corruptly to get to the top then Trump’s got your back.
Here’s the a select list of individuals that Donald Trump pardoned yesterday.
1. Edward J. DeBartolo. DeBartolo pleaded guilty in 1998 for failing to report a bribery he was aware of. Trump pardoned DeBartolo yesterday.
2. Bernard Kerik. In 2006, Kerik admitted to accepting an interest free loan of $250,000 from Eltan Wertheimer while Kerik was posted as the interior minister of Iraq during the Iraq War. Kerik pleaded guilty to eight felony counts in 2009 and served about three and a half years in prison. Trump pardoned Kerik yesterday.
3. Michael Milken. Milken pleaded guilty on April 24, 1990 on six counts of securities fraud and tax evasion. Milkin paid $200 million in fines. Milkin was originally sentenced to ten years in prison but the sentence was subsequently reduced to two years after he cooperated with officials. Trump pardoned Milkin yesterday.
4. Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, among other charges. Blagojevich was eligible to released from prison in March 2024. Trump commuted his sentence last night.
The four individuals pardoned by Donald Trump yesterday committed corruption crimes.
Blagovich, DeBartolo and Kerik violated the public trust. Michael Milkin stole money from investors.
In total, Trump gave clemency to 11 criminals.
The obvious question is will Donald Trump now pardon his long-time associate, Roger Stone who is scheduled to be sentenced later this week?
The answer is likely that he will.
In America it is good to be a criminal.
