Break the Law, Get a Pardon

Published: July 11, 2018

By Jim Lichtman
Image
Read More

In what is becoming routine, Donald Trump issued another pardon. This time to “two Oregon cattle ranchers,” The New York Times reports (July 10), “who had been serving out five-year sentences for arson on federal land — punishments that inspired the armed occupation of a wildlife refuge in 2016 and brought widespread attention to anger over federal land management in the Western United States.”

Dwight L. Hammond, and his son Steven D. Hammond, are just the latest in a growing list of pardons by Trump:

Dinesh D’Souza, far-right provocateur who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations… Pardoned.

Former Arizona sheriff, Joe Arpaio, convicted of contempt of court after ignoring a judge’s order to stop racially profiling Latinos… Pardoned. (Arpaio is currently running to fill Senator Jeff Flake’s seat in the Senate.)

Lewis “Scooter” Libby – convicted of lying to the FBI and obstruction of justice. Libby was given a thirty-month prison sentence that was later commuted by George W. Bush, but Bush refused to pardon him despite pleas from Vice-President Dick Cheney. Trump has given him a Full Pardon.

Kristian Saucier – sentenced to 12 months in prison for keeping photographs taken of classified areas inside a nuclear submarine… Pardoned.

Sholom Rubashkin – convicted of 86 counts of federal bank fraud, sentenced to 27 years in prison… Sentence Commuted by Trump.

Additional presidential pardons being considered by Trump:

Martha Stewart – convicted of obstruction of justice, and making false statements to investigators.

Rod Blagojevich – convicted of corruption charges relating to his attempt to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected president.

“The Hammonds are the sixth and seventh people to receive pardons from Mr. Trump,” The Times writes. “In all his pardons, Mr. Trump bypassed the typical process (a five-year waiting period is required for requests to be made to the Justice Department) and passed over the more than 10,000 pardon and clemency applications.”

Who’s next: Vladimir Putin… Pardoned for meddling in the 2016 election… am I’m getting ahead of myself?

Comments

Leave a Comment



Read More Articles
The Latest... And Sometimes Greatest
The Right Stuff, The Right Way
“If there is one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that a man’s judgment is no better than his information.”—John Glenn In an age...
June 16, 2025
It Can Happen Here
When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.—Derived from “It Can’t Happen Here” by Sinclair Lewis This...
June 13, 2025
The Call That May Never Have Happened—But Still Matters
It’s a story that’s made its way through online forums, Reddit threads, and grief support pages. No news articles. No official confirmation. And maybe that’s...
June 12, 2025
In Union There is Strength
Former Defense Secretary and retired Marine Corps General James Mattis has something to say. I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled. The...
June 11, 2025
A Day of Love—A Weekend of Force
Two images of the protests taking place in Los Angeles Donald Trump’s words are rarely accidental. His instinct for rhetorical impact—whether blunt force or performative...
June 7, 2025
It Just Doesn’t Stop
“If they can be charged, we’ll charge them. But if they can’t be charged, we will name them. And we will name them, and in...
June 5, 2025