List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump

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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Since taking office as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017, Donald Trump has granted executive clemency to a number of individuals as authorized under Article II, Section 2, of the US Constitution. Under the Constitution, the president's clemency power extends only to federal criminal offenses.[1] All requests for executive clemency for federal offenses are directed to the Office of the Pardon Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice for investigation and review. The beneficiary of a pardon needs to accept the pardon and acknowledge that the crime did take place.[2]

Definitions

"Executive clemency may take several forms, including pardon, commutation of sentence, remission of fine or restitution, and reprieve".[3]

  • A pardon is an instrument of mercy that stops all proceedings and punishments in progress at the time pardon is granted; forgives prior acts within the penumbra of the pardon, if sentence has already been completed for pertinent offense; and prevents any future proceeding relevant to the pertinent offense. Although criminal conviction is usually antecedent to pardon, it is not necessary. (See, e.g., Ex parte Garland, 71 U.S. (4 Wall.) 333 (1866).)
  • A commutation is the mitigation of the sentence of someone currently serving a sentence for a crime pursuant to a conviction, without vacating the conviction itself.[4]

Constitutional authority

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See also: Powers of the President of the United States

Article II of the United States Constitution gives the president the power of clemency. The two most commonly used clemency powers are those of pardon and commutation. A pardon is an official forgiveness for an acknowledged crime. Once a pardon is issued, all punishment for the crime is waived. The person accepting the pardon must, however, acknowledge that the crime did take place.[2] The president can only grant pardons for federal offences.[1] The president maintains the Office of the Pardon Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice to review all requests for pardons. The president can also commute a sentence which, in effect, changes the punishment to time served. While the guilty party may be released from custody or not have to serve out a prison term, all other punishments still apply.[5]

Most pardons are issued as oversight of the judicial branch, especially in cases where the Federal Sentencing Guidelines are considered too severe. This power can check the legislative and judicial branches by altering punishment for crimes. Presidents can issue blanket amnesty to forgive entire groups of people. For example, President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to Vietnam draft dodgers who had fled to Canada. Presidents can also issue temporary suspensions of prosecution or punishment in the form of respites. This power is most commonly used to delay federal sentences of execution.[citation needed]

Pardons

President Donald Trump has issued seventeen pardons as of November 15, 2019:

Date of Pardon Name Court Sentencing date Sentence Offense Notes
August 25, 2017 Joe Arpaio United States District Court for the District of Arizona October 5, 2017 N/A – Arpaio's pardon was issued after his conviction, but prior to his being sentenced. Criminal contempt of court <templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Main article: Pardon of Joe Arpaio
Former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona and anti-illegal immigration hardliner, Arpaio was convicted of contempt of court and was awaiting sentencing. Arpaio was pardoned for one contempt offense of which he had been convicted (but not yet sentenced) and for any not-yet-charged offenses he may have committed in the same case. In issuing the pardon, The White House cited Arpaio's "more than fifty years of admirable service to" the United States. [6][7]
March 9, 2018 Kristian Saucier United States District Court for the District of Connecticut August 19, 2016 One year in prison, three years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service Unauthorized possession and retention of national defense information Saucier was given an other-than-honorable discharge from the Navy for taking photos in a military submarine.[8] At sentencing, Saucier unsuccessfully argued for probation rather than imprisonment on the basis that Hillary Clinton was not indicted for her email controversy.[9]
April 13, 2018 Lewis "Scooter" Libby United States District Court for the District of Columbia June 14, 2007 30 months of prison, two years of probation, and a $250,000 fine Perjury and obstruction of justice Previously an aide to former vice president Dick Cheney. Convicted in connection with the CIA leak scandal. Pardoned following an earlier commutation by President George W. Bush in July 2007.[10][11][12]
May 24, 2018 Jack Johnson United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois September 14, 1920 One year and one day in prison, and $1000 fine Violation of the Mann Act Famed boxer, convicted by an all-white jury in 1913 for traveling with his white girlfriend. It was then illegal to transport women across state lines for "immoral" purposes.[13][14][15][16]
May 31, 2018 Dinesh D'Souza United States District Court for the Southern District of New York September 23, 2014 Five years of probation, eight months of supervision in a halfway house, and a $30,000 fine Campaign finance violations In 2014, right-wing commentator D'Souza pleaded guilty to making illegal campaign contributions to the 2012 Senate campaign of his Republican friend, Wendy Long.[17][18][19]
July 10, 2018
  • Dwight Lincoln Hammond, Jr.
  • Steven Dwight Hammond
 United States District Court for the District of Oregon October 7, 2015 Five years in prison Arson Father and son were convicted of arson in 2012. While initially sentenced to time served, their sentence was increased in 2015 to the mandatory 5-year minimum term under federal law.[20] The increased sentence triggered protests which culminated in the armed occupation of a wildlife refuge.[21] The Hammonds had rejected the protesters' assistance.[21][22][23]
May 6, 2019 Michael Behenna General court martial February 28, 2009 Twenty years in prison, forfeiture of pay, and dismissal from the Army Assault and murder Convicted of murder of an Iraqi man by a court-martial, Army First Lieutenant Behanna was released on parole in 2014.[24]
May 15, 2019 Conrad Black United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois December 10, 2007 42 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and $125,000 fine Fraud and obstruction of justice Former media mogul, current friend, supporter and biographer of President Trump.[25] Conviction reviewed by the Supreme Court in Black v. United States; convictions later upheld. Released from prison in 2014 and deported to Canada where he is not a citizen.[26]
May 15, 2019 Pat Nolan United States District Court for the Eastern District of California February 18, 1994 33 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $10,000 fine Racketeering Former Republican lawmaker who pled guilty to soliciting for illegal campaign donations after being caught by the Shrimpscam sting operation by the FBI. Ultimately served 26 months; released in 1996 and became an activist for criminal-justice reform.[27]
July 29, 2019 John Richard Bubala United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana April 5, 1991 Two years probation, conditioned upon four months community confinement and two months home confinement Conversion of government property Pleaded guilty to improper use of federal government property by transferring automotive equipment to the town of Milltown, Indiana, for its maintenance use. His primary aim was to help the town, and he sought neither compensation nor recognition for his actions.[28]
July 29, 2019 Roy Wayne McKeever United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma March 2, 1989 One year in prison and one year of supervised release Transporting marijuana After being arrested for transporting marijuana from Mexico to Oklahoma, he immediately accepted responsibility and plead guilty to one count of using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of a controlled substance.[28]
July 29, 2019 Rodney Takumi United States District Court for the District of Hawaii February 9, 1987 Two years of probation and fined $250 Working at an illegal gambling parlor While working, he was arrested during a law enforcement raid.[28]
July 29, 2019 Michael Tedesco United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania December 7, 1990 One year in prison and five years supervised release Drug trafficking and fraud Former president Barack Obama pardoned him in 2017, but due to a clerical error, his fraud conviction was not encompassed within that grant of executive clemency.[28]
July 29, 2019 Chalmer Lee Williams United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky May 25, 1995 Four months in prison and three years of supervised release Theft Participated in and was convicted of several crimes related to the theft and sale of stolen firearms. Upon arrest, he immediately accepted responsibility for his actions. In light of his impeccable behavior while serving his sentence, his supervised release terminated one year early, and in 1998, the governor of Kentucky restored his voting rights.[28]
October 10, 2019 Zay Jeffries United States District Court for the Southern District of New York October 8, 1948 $2,500 fine Anti-competitive practices Convicted under the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 regarding his engineering firm; his indictment in 1941 was deferred until 1947, due to his efforts during World War II.[29]
November 15, 2019 Mathew L. Golsteyn General court martial N/A – Golsteyn's pardon was issued before his trial. N/A Murder On December 13, 2018, Golsteyn, then serving as a major in the United States Army, was charged with the murder of a suspected bomb-maker in Afghanistan in 2010, following an interview in which he admitted to killing the man.[30] At the time of the pardon, Golsteyn's case had not yet gone to trial.[31]
November 15, 2019 Clint Lorance General court martial August 1, 2013 Nineteen years in prison, forfeiture of pay, and dismissal from the Army Murder As a first lieutenant in the United States Army, Lorance was convicted of murdering two civilians in Afghanistan.[31] He was later championed by members of the House of Representatives and Fox News personalities.[32]

Commutations

President Donald Trump has issued six commutations as of November 2019:

Date of Pardon Name Court Sentencing date Sentence Offense Notes
December 20, 2017 Sholom Rubashkin United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa June 22, 2010 27-year prison term, 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $27 million Bank fraud The commutation does not vacate Rubashkin's conviction, and it leaves in place a term of supervised release and a substantial restitution obligation, which were also part of his sentence. Rubashkin was released 19 years earlier than planned.[33][34]
June 6, 2018 Alice Marie Johnson United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee March 21, 1997 Life sentence Conspiracy to possess cocaine, attempted possession of cocaine, money laundering First-time, non-violent drug offender. Johnson's sentence was commuted following a meeting between Trump and Kim Kardashian.[35][36][37][38][39][40] Johnson had served more than 21 years in prison; Trump's commutation allowed her to be released from incarceration immediately.
July 10, 2018 Dwight and Steven Hammond United States District Court for the District of Oregon October 7, 2015 Five years in prison Arson In addition to the full pardon on the same day, Trump issued commutations of the Hammonds' prison sentences to time served,[41] and ordered their immediate release.[42]
July 29, 2019 Ronen Nahmani United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida October 9, 2015 Twenty years in prison Conspiracy to distribute synthetic drugs Non-violent, first-time offender with no criminal history.[28]
July 29, 2019 Ted Suhl United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas October 27, 2016 Seven years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $200,000 fine Bribery Ran faith-based behavioral healthcare treatment centers for juveniles in Arkansas. Allegedly participated in a bribery scheme to increase Medicaid payments to his company. Federal prosecutors in Arkansas declined to pursue the case, but prosecutors in Washington decided to move forward with the prosecution. Found guilty of half the charges filed against him, he was sentenced to seven years in prison.[28]

Responses

In May 2019, the New York State Senate passed the TRUST Act which if signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo would amend state law to allow state prosecutors to pursue charges against individuals pardoned by the president.[43]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lindsey Bever, Trump compared a Navy man's crime to Clinton's email scandal. Now that sailor wants a pardon., The Washington Post. (January 26, 2017). Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ https://www.justice.gov/pardon/page/file/1079376/download
  23. ↑ https://www.justice.gov/pardon/page/file/1079371/download
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.“Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency”, White House, July 29, 2019
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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