Pardon pardon pardon pardon

Feb 18th, 2020 | By Ophelia Benson
Category: Notes and Comment Blog
Tags: Trump

Trump is having an explosion of pardoning convicted rich corrupt white dudes today, when he’s not too busy pumping out illiterate tweets.

He’s commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, the guy who tried to sell Obama’s Senate seat for $$$$.

I want to be clear how utterly despised Blagojevich was in his own party in Illinois (a Democratic powerhouse).

He was impeached 114-1. He was convicted in the IL Senate 59-0.

He tried to sell Obama's Senate seat for profit. He does not deserve commutation.

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) February 18, 2020

But Trump knows better.

Trump just commuted the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, once
a contestant on Trump's “Celebrity Apprentice," who tried to exchange an appointment to Barack Obama’s Senate seat for campaign contributions. A perfect storm for Donald the Quid Pro Quo Obama-hater.

— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) February 18, 2020

Little did the shy boy from Queens ever dream he would some day be able to remedy the injustice.

It's outrageous that Blagojevich goes to jail for 14 years when killers and sex offenders are out walking the (cont) http://t.co/O1FbaiGG

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2012

Sex offenders like Donald Trump for instance?

Looks like @realDonaldTrump’s post-#Impeachment “Learned His Lesson” Tour continues with pardons and sentence commutings of other corrupt criminals… #Trump #blagojevich https://t.co/HZOX5TYD29

— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) February 18, 2020

What is the point of all these pardons? Is it to own the libs or to show that rule of law is not something the United States is really interested in pursuing anymore? Or that the President likes bad boys? Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t really get it.

— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) February 18, 2020

Maybe all of those plus just, I don’t know, kicking back and doing whatever he feels like because hey why not? Embrace the random? Go where your impulses take you? Seize the day? Act like a crazy dictator in case you have a headache tomorrow?

6 Responses to “Pardon pardon pardon pardon”

#1
What a Maroon
February 18, 2020 at 12:19 pm

The others that Trump pardoned:

Trump also announced pardons for former New York police commissioner Bernie Kerik, convicted of tax fraud and lying to officials, and Mike Milken, an investment banker who was convicted of felony charges that included securities fraud and conspiracy.

And:

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday pardoning Eddie DeBartolo Jr., White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley announced at the White House.

DeBartolo is the former owner of the NFL team, the San Francisco 49ers. During DeBartolo’s time as owner, the team won five Super Bowl titles.

DeBartolo pleaded guilty in 1998 to failing to report a felony in a bribery case, which led to former Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards getting sent to federal prison.

DeBartolo did not serve jail time, but he agreed to pay up to $1 million in fines. He also relinquished ownership of the 49ers to his sister, Denise York.

Give him credit for diversity: a dirty governor, a dirty cop, a dirty investment banker, and a dirty NFL owner.
#2
Rob
February 18, 2020 at 12:33 pm

Reading the White House press release, I’m just surprised that Trump didn’t award some of these guys the medal of Freedom while he was at it.

Sickening.
#3
What a Maroon
February 18, 2020 at 12:48 pm

Re Julia Ioffe’s question, look at the crimes these men were convicted of:

–17 counts related to selling the Senate seat vacated by Obama

–Tax fraud and lying to officials

–Securities fraud and conspiracy

–Failing to report a felony in a bribery case

In Trump’s world, those aren’t crimes, they’re just Tuesday.
#4
iknklast
February 18, 2020 at 1:14 pm

Yes, where are the pardons for people who smoked a joint? Knocked over a convenience store because their kids were starving? Stole a car and went for a joy ride?

Next up, pardons for rape. In five…four…three…two…one…
#5
Colin Day
February 18, 2020 at 3:17 pm

Good thing Trump never demanded the death penalty for the Central Park Five, who didn’t commit the crimes for which they were prosecuted.

Oh wait, you didn’t mean that Trump, did you?
#6
G Felis
February 18, 2020 at 6:34 pm

I think these commutations — especially Blagojevich — are a signal to everyone who might balk at committing blatant acts of corruption at Trump’s behest: “Don’t worry about it; I’ll just pardon you. If my impeachment proved anything, it’s that there will be NO accountability on my watch!” He doesn’t care about how unpopular or transparently corrupt his actions are anymore, he’s TOTALLY EXONERATED of all immoral and criminal acts forever in his tiny mind. I don’t think that this message actually needed to be sent; we all already knew it. But “subtlety” is just not in Trump’s nature — nor are taste, politeness, self-awareness, self-restraint, any hint of virtue or morality…