January 2021
Trump is probably not going to extend pardons to anyone involved in the assault on the Capitol, after counsel’s warnings; also probably not going to pardon certain associates who have not been charged with crimes yet — because he might have to name the crimes he is pardoning. About pardoning himself and his family, he was warned against this too, but if he heeds this advice is anyone’s guess, considering his legal peril after leaving office. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/politics/trump-self-pardon-warning/index.html
Because Trump has hollowed out so much of the federal government, his list of pardons and clemencies might be the only things that get done in these final two days of his presidency. He has planned, reportedly, a list of 100 pardons and clemencies to be carried out Tuesday, Jan. 19th. His list of hoped-for executive orders and declassifying of information might partly fall by the wayside. The lobbying attorneys who’ve been paid small fortunes to help push through presidential pardons will likely strongly urge Trump to do the pardons, FIRST.
White House advisors have tried to deter the president from pardoning or offering clemency to anyone involved in the Capitol Building assault that took place Jan. 6th. Also, there is no indication as yet that Trump plans to self-pardon, but this could change too. Tuesday is the last full day of work for the Trump Administration, given that Trump himself plans to be in the air on his way to Florida before his term officially ends at noon. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/17/politics/trump-pardons-expected/index.html
In our opinion, John Kiriakou, a former C.I.A. officer, is someone who actually deserves a presidential pardon, and should never have been convicted. He let the world know that the C.I.A. was using torture against prisoners. These days he is likely seeing if he can secure a pardon, for his family’s sake, since at the moment his federal pension is revoked.
But now his efforts — with some hefty payments to lawyers to start a pardon request — are now bringing possible “pardon-sellers” out of the woodwork. An associate of Rudy Giuliani told Kiriakou that a pardon would cost him $2million from Giuliani. Kiriakou scoffingly declined the offer, saying his pension was worth far less than that – $700,000. A Giuliani associate notified the FBI about this offer, fearing Giuliani was selling pardons. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/17/us/politics/trump-pardons.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur
Unfortunately, to request a pardon one must approach persons with access to the president, and Trump allies John Dowd, his former attorney, and former U.S. attorney Brett Tolman are raking in tens of thousands from people wishing to lobby this president. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/17/politics/trump-allies-pardons-lobbying/index.html
Jacob Anthony Chansley says Trump “has an obligation” to give him a pardon, since he was there on the invitation of the president. Chansley is possibly the most-recognized figure in the Jan. 6 Capitol Building riots, who sported a painted face and a hat with horns. Federal prosecutors are now saying rioters intended to capture & kill elected officials, they beat and tasered police, and that the mob included leaders who planned the assault and directed rioters where to go. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jake-angeli-qanon-pardon-donald-trump_n_6001793bc5b6ffcab9638708
Hackers are claiming they “scraped” — or downloaded — the entire website of Parler including users, written posts, videos and images, deleted videos, and gps tracking information showing where the users were when they posted, and will be providing this information to law enforcement. Perpetrators of the Jan. 6th assault on the Capitol who used Parler to plan the assault may be identified by their posts despite the fact that Parler is now offline. https://www.computing.co.uk/news/4025643/parler-breach-hackers-claim-downloaded-everything-parler-offline
Some are calling the insurrectionists who broke into the Capitol “cop killers” — death of a Capitol police officer after injuries spurs homicide investigation. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/politics/capitol-police-officer-killed/index.html
More people who could use pardons: The many seditious actors who broke into the Capitol building on Jan. 6th after an incendiary speech by Donald Trump are being sought by multiple law enforcement divisions including the FBI. Of the 50 or so who were arrested the same day, a large number were charged with violations of the D.C. curfew, but others captured on video were seen committing more serious acts. Some could be facing up to 10 years in prison. No word if Trump is considering pardoning any; seems unlikely as his focus is on his own legal peril. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/1/8/2006921/-Traitors-who-stormed-Capitol-will-receive-stiff-sentences-for-vandalism-thanks-to-Donald-Trump
“If Trump self-pardons, he will guarantee that Garland and the full weight of the DOJ will come for him. Because they simply have to.” https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/1/7/2006893/-After-inciting-an-insurrection-Trump-is-seriously-considering-handing-himself-an-all-purpose-pardon
Assault on the Capitol: So much has happened rapidly in the last 2 days. A summary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_storming_of_the_United_States_Capitol
No Scottish golf for you. Any hope President Trump had to hide out during the inauguration by going to Scotland, and presumably to his Turnberry golf resort, on January 19th, is now dashed, because Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that he may not visit due to travel restrictions prohibiting nonessential travel. https://www.businessinsider.com/scotland-leader-blocks-trump-from-visiting-turnberry-golf-resort-2021-1
Running away from the Inauguration?? — Prestwick Airport in Scotland, which is near Trump’s Turnberry golf resort, has been put on notice to expect a U.S. military plane on Jan. 19th. This particular plane has been used frequently by the president’s wife and family, not usually him. This could mean Trump is planning to fly there and possibly stay during the changeover of the presidency. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/04/trump-biden-inauguration-plane-flight-scotland
A new crime? This appears to be a potential state offense, so if it is one it would be unpardonable.Trump says repeatedly in his phone call that he “won this election” in Georgia. The state has done 2 recounts, at least one audit, and these all end in a Biden victory. https://www.msnbc.com/the-beat-with-ari/watch/one-more-crime-trump-s-ga-call-may-be-an-unpardonable-felony-98783813890
By now most of the country has heard at least excerpts from a phone call made by Donald Trump to the Secretary of State of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger. Excerpts of phone call: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-raffensperger-call-georgia-vote/2021/01/03/d45acb92-4dc4-11eb-bda4-615aaefd0555_story.html
Entire phone call, and transcript: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-raffensperger-call-transcript-georgia-vote/2021/01/03/2768e0cc-4ddd-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html
December 2020
Pardon them with spite; own the libs. His anticipated pardons include, firstly, two figures from the Mueller investigation and two disgraced congressmen. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-pardons-george-papadopoulos-duncan-hunter-gop_n_5b17ef27e4b0734a9939b618
Without his AG by his side, Trump may have harder time with some pardons. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/15/william-barr-exit-bad-news-donald-trump-post-presidency-pardons
A kind of clemency we like to see: Justice restored. But how will Trump use his power? https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/17/us/north-carolina-governor-pardons-wrongful-convictions/index.html
Pardon hopefuls flood president with requests. https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/16/politics/donald-trump-pardons-lame-duck/index.html
Trump clearly enjoyed pardoning turkeys; has declared in tweets his belief he can pardon himself too. https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-dangerous-possibilities-of-trumps-pardon-power
Trump has self-pardon on his mind. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/11/donald-trump-self-pardon
Sean Hannity suggests that Trump immediately self-pardon. https://www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity/sean-hannity-donald-trump-needs-pardon-his-whole-family-and-himself
Michael Flynn’s pardon explained, what possible offenses it covers. Called broadest pardon since Ford’s of Nixon. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/30/trump-flynn-pardon-reprieve-441527
Rudy Giuliani discussed a pardon for himself. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/dec/01/us-election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-scott-atlas-coronavirus-covid-live-updates
Rudy’s possible pardon. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/01/us/joe-biden-trump#giuliani-is-said-to-have-discussed-a-possible-pardon-with-trump
November 2020
Opinion: The commutation of Roger Stone’s sentence was simply quid pro quo for shielding the president. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/07/14/russia-mueller-probe-investigation-donald-trump-roger-stone-column/5429789002/ 7/14/20
Limits on the president’s pardon power? Only limits it to federal crimes, with no review by any other body. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/27/explainer-can-trump-pardon-his-associates-or
There are several types of pardons. One, the pardoning of cronies who committed crimes related to that presidency, is a shady and possibly corrupt type, but has been done by several presidents. Trump, however, seems on track to do far more in this vein than anyone before. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/11/11/trump-pardon-kardashian-nixon-lame-duck/
Friends of Trump are importuning him to forgive convictions of various people. Some from across the political aisle are too: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) made a request on the part of Edward Snowden and Julian Assange. https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-trump-pardon-edward-snowden-julian-assange-1550573
Analysis of the latest presidential pardon. Flynn’s long-adjudicated legal case never reached a conclusion despite his confession of guilt, yet the president opted to act to end it. https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Why-President-Trump-s-pardon-of-15759024.php
A second case in which Trump has wiped a friend’s slate clean before the law could actually sentence him. Again, the case has ties to the Russia investigation. https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pardon-michael-flynn-russia-aeef585b08ba6f2c763c8c37bfd678ed
Beginning the lame duck session, does Trump intend to pardon himself? His past remarks on subject are scrutinized. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/26/after-flynn-pardon-could-trump-do-the-same-for-himself
