Trump Pardons 15, Including Republican Allies And War Criminals

Shutterstock/Joseph Sohm

December 23, 2020, 6:55 am

With President Trump soon to leave office — whether he believes it or not — many have turned their attention to wondering what pardons he’ll make prior to going. As of Tuesday, that wave had finally begun, and as expected, some very questionable choices have already been made.

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Three former Congressmen (all Republicans), two allies who were charged in conjunction with the Russia investigation, and four Blackwater contractors who killed Iraqi civilians were all among the 15 pardons and five commutations Trump has made so far in his final days.

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Trump also pardoned all four Blackwater contractors convicted of killing Iraqi civilians in the Nisour Square Massacre

— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) December 23, 2020

According to The New York Times, “more than half of the cases did not meet the [Justice Department’s] standards for consideration,” suggesting people are going through personal channels to reach out to the president, rather than going through official review.

George Papadopoulos and Alex van der Zwaan, both charged during Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, aren’t the first to be pardoned by Trump in relation to that saga, nor are they expected to be the last.

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That the president pardoned mercenaries who killed unarmed Iraqi citizens and Republican allies who were charged with white-collar crimes such as misusing campaign funds and money laundering has been of particular frustration to the American people, who are calling these decisions an abuse of presidential power.

Ali Kinani was 9 years old when he was shot in the head by Blackwater guards on September 16, 2007 in Baghdad Iraq. @realDonaldTrump just pardoned his killers. I represented Ali’s and five other families in a civil lawsuit against Blackwater and Erik Prince for the killings. pic.twitter.com/B2dwbjU4Ub

— A Damn Lawyer (@adamnlawyer) December 23, 2020

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Private Blackwater mercenaries Nicholas Slatten, Paul Alvin Slough, Evan Shawn Liberty, and Dustin Laurent Heard are war criminals.

Pardoning monstrous criminals will leave a dark mark on the history of presidential pardons. https://t.co/guz6PCJ4rR

— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) December 23, 2020

In 2001, Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, a campaign donor, prompting a DOJ and House GOP investigation

When Trump pardons three convicted congressmen and a bunch of political associates, there’s just silence

Is it too much to expect just a little bit of outrage? #RuleOfLaw

— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) December 23, 2020

Chairman Schiff on the Trump pardons: “They’re grotesque. They’re morally repugnant. And they’re exactly what we expect of Donald Trump.” @TheLastWord

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 23, 2020

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According to Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard law professor, 88% of the 45 pardons or commutations that Trump had granted before Tuesday helped someone who was personally associated with him or benefited him politically.

— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) December 23, 2020

The message Trump has sent tonight is clear: no matter how awful your crime was, justice does not apply to you if you are loyal to him. https://t.co/zymL2O8ouB

— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) December 23, 2020

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A man w/ no conscience & nothing to lose is capable of anything.

Trump’s setting an unethical precedent w/ a blanket pardon for anyone he wants.

Pardoning murderers while staging a coup is nothing I ever expected to see from an American president.

But here we are.#PardonMe https://t.co/UPxJCjGhJu

— Dr. Stefan, PhD (@StefanK1117) December 23, 2020

Many were (still) expecting Trump to fight the establishment, & pardon whistleblowers (say Assange). Instead, he pardoned criminal mercenaries.

These pardons are unpardonable.

— Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) December 23, 2020

This dismal round of pardons is only amping up speculation regarding what additional pardons the president may make before he’s forced to vacate office. Previous reports have suggested Trump is considering “preemptive pardons” for a number of his allies or even family members, which would be an unprecedented decision. But Trump’s presidency has never followed a traditional or even vaguely ethical route, so nothing can come as a surprise as these final weeks drag out.

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*First Published: December 23, 2020, 6:55 am