PRESIDENT Donald Trump has pardoned dozens of politicians and law enforcement officials since he was voted into office in 2016.

A presidential pardon allows a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences of their criminal sentencing.

What is a pardon in government?

The pardon power comes from the US Constitution and is one of the broadest available to a president.

The nation’s founders saw the pardon power as a way to show mercy and serve the public good.

Pardons are typically given to people who have been prosecuted and can cover conduct that has not yet resulted in legal proceedings.

A pardon is not reviewable by other branches of government and the president does not have to give a reason for issuing one.

A pardon wipes out a criminal conviction, but only applies to federal crimes.

A president can pardon an individual for nearly any offense committed against the US.

Who has Trump pardoned?

Alice Johnson

Alice Johnson spent 20 years behind bars before President Donald Trump granted her clemency in 2018.

Johnson was famously granted clemency after meeting with Kim Kardashian West about her case.

The 65-year-old from Mississippi was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1996 for her involvement in a Memphis cocaine-trafficking organization.

She was unemployed and recently divorced when she became a "telephone mule," relaying messages between drug distributors and sellers.

She was charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine, attempted possession of cocaine and money laundering.

Kim Kardashian met with President Trump on May 30, 2018, and personally fought on Johnson's behalf until Trump granted her clemency a week later.

Michael Flynn

President Trump pardoned Michael Flynn on November 25.

Trump announced Flynn's clemency in a tweet after reportedly informing confidants of his plans to pardon him.

He claimed the ex-national security adviser's prosecution was an "attempt to subvert 2016 election."

"It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon," Trump tweeted. "Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!"

Hours later, his press secretary issued a statement, describing Flynn as an "American hero" who "should never have been prosecuted" based on an independent review by the Department of Justice.

Susan B. Anthony

Born in 1820, Susan B. Anthony was an American social reformer and women's rights activist.

She played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement and securing women's right to vote.

On August 18, 2020, President Trump pardoned Anthony for illegal voting, a crime she was sentenced to in 1873.

"She was never pardoned!" Trump exclaimed in a White House ceremony. "Did you know that she was never pardoned? What took so long?"

Deborah L. Hughes, the executive director of the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House in Rochester, New York, rejected his pardon.

"Objection! Mr. President, Susan B. Anthony must decline your offer of a pardon," she wrote in a statement.

"Anthony wrote in her diary in 1873 that her trial for voting was 'The greatest outrage History ever witnessed.' She was not allowed to speak as a witness in her own defense, because she was a woman.

"At the conclusion of arguments, Judge Hunt dismissed the jury and pronounced her guilty. She was outraged to be denied a trial by jury. She proclaimed, 'I shall never pay a dollar of your unjust penalty.' To pay would have been to validate the proceedings. To pardon Susan B. Anthony does the same."

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Joseph Michael Arpaio is an American former law enforcement officer and politician.

He served as an Arizona sheriff for 24 years between 1993-2017.

Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt related to his hard-line tactics going after undocumented immigrants.

Allegedly, the former official would racially profile and target Latinos for traffic stops and detention.

Civil rights groups claimed Arpaio was violating the constitution in the ways he came down on illegal immigration.

Trump pardoned him in August 2017.

"Throughout his time as sheriff, Arpaio continued his life's work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration," a statement from the president read.

"Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is (a) worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon."

Lewis 'Scooter' Libby

Lewis "Scooter" Libby was a former adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney.

He was convicted in 2007 of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with the disclosure of the identity of a CIA. officer.

At the time, former President George W. Bush commuted his 30-month sentence, but in 2018 President Trump granted him a full pardon, saying:

“I don’t know Mr. Libby, but for years I have heard that he has been treated unfairly. Hopefully, this full pardon will help rectify a very sad portion of his life.”

Dinesh D'Souza

In 2018, Trump pardoned conservative writer Dinesh D'Souza who was convicted in 2014 of violating campaign finance laws.

D'Souza, 57, was found guilty of an illegal $20,000 campaign contribution to a New York politician.

After pleading guilty to the crime, he was sentenced to five years in prison.

Trump pardoned him after tweeting that he had been treated "very unfairly" by the US government.

Bernard Kerik

New York’s police commissioner Bernard Kerik received a full pardon in February this year for eight felonies he was convicted of in 2010.

His convictions included tax fraud and lying to White House officials.

Kerik wrote on Twitter that he had "no words" to express his gratitude to President Trump.

“With the exception of the birth of my children,” he added, “today is one of the greatest days of my life.”

Source: Read Full Article