Tag: Trump commutations

Trump pardons former congressman whose actions helped prompt earmark ban

Former Republican Reps. Rick Renzi and Robin Hayes also pardoned

Former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham of California became a lead example of how lawmakers can abuse their office for financial gain and prompted lasting changes to the congressional appropriations process when he went to prison 15 years ago for taking $2.4 million in bribes that involved a yacht named the “Duke-Stir.”

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump gave a full pardon to Cunningham and two other former Republican members of Congress as one of his final acts in office, extending a streak of giving a break to politicians who faced corruption charges.

Also on a list of more than 140 pardons and commuted sentences was former Rep. Rick Renzi of Arizona, who was sentenced to two years in prison on 17 charges of fraud, racketeering and public corruption.  Continue reading.

Trump grants flurry of last-minute pardons

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President Trump issued 73 pardons and commuted the sentences of 70 individuals early Wednesday, 11 hours from leaving office.

Why it matters: It’s a last-minute gift to some of the president’s loyalists and an evident use of executive power with only hours left of his presidency. Axios reported in December that Trump planned to grant pardons to “every person who ever talked to me.”

For the record: Some pardons and commutations were granted to Trump’s allies, while others were related to criminal justice issues.  Continue reading.