December 2, 2020, 12:44 pm
Court records unsealed on Tuesday revealed that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating a possible “presidential pardon bribery scheme” according to a breaking CNN report. The department suspects that money is being funneled into the White House or “related political committee” that is meant to buy a pardon from the outgoing president.
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The court records are short on details, lacking names or a timeline for the alleged scheme, but Donald Trump has long suggested that he will pardon allies and might be looking into so-called “preemptive” pardons for himself and his children. He also recently pardoned former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who was convicted for lying to the FBI.
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No one has yet been charged and the White House declined to comment on the court records, but investigators raided a number of offices and gathered over 50 tech devices related to the case. Prosecutors asked a judge for access to these devices, believing them to have information on a conspiracy involving “a substantial political contribution in exchange for a presidential pardon or reprieve of sentence.”
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The name of the convicted individual allegedly seeking a pardon was redacted. The good news is that Chief Judge Beryl Howell granted prosecutors access, allowing them to further pursue a case that could add to the pile of thing he could go to prison for.
The only hint as to who this alleged scheme might involve, other than the president, is the section that refers to “lobbyists to senior White House officials.” So far, prosecutors only have evidence of these individuals seeking pardons in exchange for past campaign contributions rather than of a direct bribe payment, but may be looking into at least one case of a lobbyist using an “intermediary to send a bribe.”
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In response to the allegations, Donald Trump had five words to say.
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*First Published: December 2, 2020, 12:44 pm
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