On the eve of his departure from the White House, PresidentDonald Trumpflexed one of his signature powers for the final time.
He issued 143 pardons or sentence commutations for convicted criminals including rappers Kodak Black and Lil Wayne; former top strategist Steve Bannon, who is being prosecuted for fraud; former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, in prison for corruption; and Palm Beach, Florida, eye doctor Salomon Melgen, who is in prison after being convicted on dozens of counts of health care fraud.
The list includes a host of other figures, including white-collar criminals, politically-connected allies and friends and those who have endorsed him in the past — reflecting parallel dynamics during the Trump administration: both his support for criminal justice reform and his penchant for pardoning those close to him.
Trump did not pardon himself or any of his children, despite reports in recent weeks that he had been considering such an unusual move.
As is customary for a departing president, Trump had been expected for days to issue a final batch of pardons, likely including some of his most controversial choices.
The White House statement confirming the pardons and sentence commutations came after midnight on Wednesday, some eight hours before Trump left Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump.Drew Angerer/Getty
Lil Wayne (né Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) previously appeared to throw his support behind Trump’s election campaign when he shared a photo of the two together onTwitter, writing that he supported the president’s criminal justice reform plan.
In December, one year after authorities found drugs and a gold-plated handgun in his chartered jet, Lil Waynepleaded guiltyto possessing a loaded handgun as a formerly convicted felon. He faces up to 10 years in prison stemming from the charges.
Kodak Black (born Bill Kapri) similarly was sent to prison for gun crimes, according to theAssociated Press. The White House statement about his pardon cited what the administration called his philanthropic history; officials similarly said that Lil Wayne was charitable.
Kodak Black reacted to his pardonon Twitter, thanking Trump.
Melgen, meanwhile was named as a co-conspirator in a since-dismissed corruption case against Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez andsentenced to 17 yearsfor health care fraud in 2018.
Bannon, a right-wing media executive who helped run Trump’s successful 2016 presidential campaign and was for a time a top White House strategist, was being prosecuted for allegations of fraud in connection with a fundraiser to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Reports suggested that Trump was receiving advice and recommendations on pardons from any remaining White House advisers andcriminal justice reformgroups as late as Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier in the day Tuesday, Trump released his final video message to to the American people, touting what he describes as his accomplishments while saying the movement he inspired is only beginning.
In the final weeks of his presidency, Trump reportedly discussed thepossibility of issuingfederal pardons to family members and close political allies such as his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, or his adult children.
source: people.com
