As he leaves office, Trump pardons former top strategist Bannon

By Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon exits the Manhattan Federal Court, following his arraignment hearing for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. August 20, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations he will issue during his final hours in office, a senior administration official said.

 

Trump was not expected to pardon himself, members of his family or lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who was at the forefront of unsuccessful efforts to get the results of the 2020 presidential election overturned, according to sources.

 

Trump leaves office on Wednesday, when Joe Biden is sworn in as the nation's next president.

 

Trump also pardoned rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black who were prosecuted on federal weapons offenses, as well as former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was serving a 28-year prison term on corruption charges, a senior administration official said.

 

Bannon, who was a key adviser in Trump's 2016 presidential run, was charged last year with swindling Trump supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the president's wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty.

 

White House officials had advised Trump against pardoning Bannon. The two men have lately rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud, an official familiar with the situation said.

 

Bannon, 67, is the latest prominent political ally to receive clemency from Trump, who has often used the powers of the executive branch to reward loyalists and punish his enemies.

 

Trump previously pardoned former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI about his conversation with the former Russian ambassador, and he commuted the prison term for Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

 

Bannon can still be charged in state court in New York, where a pardon would not help him, said Daniel R. Alonso, a former prosecutor now at the Buckley law firm. Fraud prosecutions are frequently brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Alonso said.

 

Lil Wayne, 38, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., pleaded guilty in federal court in December to illegally possessing a firearm and faced up to 10 years in prison. He has expressed support for Trump's criminal justice reform efforts.

 

Kodak Black, 23, who was born Bill Kahan Kapri, is in federal prison for making a false statement in order to buy a firearm.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland. Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Jan Wolfe. Writing by James Oliphant.; Editing by Mary Milliken and Lincoln Feast.)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-20

 

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Birds of a feather 

Might be pardoned but will be forever known as guilty every single one of his cronies tarred with the same brush ,The Trump Brush . 

Ahhh Donald only the best people ehhh what a nasty crowd of people you run with bannon Manafort stone yuck bunch of slime balls imo 

Good job Mr Trump.

I just hope there is a pardon for Assange  as well.

Does this mean he cannot be prosecuted for embezzling all that money from the political funds?.....Surelynot?

 

I would like to see Biden to commit to no pardons during his administration......set the standard.

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Good job Mr Trump.

I just hope there is a pardon for Assange  as well.

Don't think Assange has the $2 million asking price, so tough love from Donnie if you ain't got the bucks

I imagine Steve Bannon will have a lot of dirt on Trump. There is a reason why Trump is nice to that guy.

2 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Does this mean he cannot be prosecuted for embezzling all that money from the political funds?.....Surelynot?

 

I would like to see Biden to commit to no pardons during his administration......set the standard.

The idea about presidential pardons makes sense.

The misuse of that privilege is the problem.

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The idea about presidential pardons makes sense.

 

As an outsider it makes no sense whatsoever IMO. 

 

One thing this election has done is highlight that the US constitution/laws may well be overdue an update.

and Bannon - too-  knows how to extract cash from Trump followers, and it is not over yet

Steven Bannon case: Border wall fraud trial of Trump aide set for May (cnbc.com)

No Rudy?

 

The pardon does nothing for bannon, he can be charged under state laws for his fraud.

Just now, Sujo said:

No Rudy?

 

The pardon does nothing for bannon, he can be charged under state laws for his fraud.

????

54 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

I would like to see Biden to commit to no pardons during his administration......set the standard.

 

Totally agree. These pardons are now and forever tainted and have been totally Mugabe'd by Trump.

 

But Joe should rescind the practice only AFTER Trump has been found guilty.

Great that Trump pardoned Bannon. Steve deserved one without a doubt. Lots of political prosecution going on.

It was always about protecting the 14 foot alligators they filled the Trump swamp with. Manafort, Kelly, Stone, Bannon. How many others? 

 

At least Rudy got left out in the cold, with a shattered reputation, no legacy remaining and few prospects.

 

Talk about a radioactive name. I suppose his $45 million fortune, made representing mostly corrupt men will help. 

49 minutes ago, Salerno said:

55 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The idea about presidential pardons makes sense.

 

As an outsider it makes no sense whatsoever IMO. 

 

One thing this election has done is highlight that the US constitution/laws may well be overdue an update.

 

AFAIK, these Presidential pardons are neither an item of the Constitution or set in US law. It has simply become a custom that up until now, hasn't been so rudely abused.

2 minutes ago, ExpatOK said:

Great that Trump pardoned Bannon. Steve deserved one without a doubt. Lots of political prosecution going on.

Yeah its.not like he daid the heads of fauci and pelosi should be on a spike. And defrauded trumps own supporters.

 

The only reason bannon got a pardon is because trump needs his help starting his own party. Imo.

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Good job Mr Trump.

I just hope there is a pardon for Assange  as well.

What is good about this please (except for the fact that law abiding people won't like this)?

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

What is good about this please (except for the fact that law abiding people won't like this)?

I like Bannon's politics.

Tiger King? I see joe exotic has had a limo waiting outside his jail in anticipation.

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

I like Bannon's politics.

What are they.

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

AFAIK, these Presidential pardons are neither an item of the Constitution or set in US law. It has simply become a custom that up until now, hasn't been so rudely abused.

Wrong. A 30 second google search will tell you it is constitutional.

6 minutes ago, ExpatOK said:

Great that Trump pardoned Bannon. Steve deserved one without a doubt. Lots of political prosecution going on.

He was charged for scamming Trump supporters! ????

It's not surprising Trump pardoned him. Birds of the feather....

19 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

AFAIK, these Presidential pardons are neither an item of the Constitution or set in US law. It has simply become a custom that up until now, hasn't been so rudely abused.

 

It actually comes from  Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution. The reason I threw "laws" into the mix is some pardons/commuting of sentences do address somewhat overzealous sentencing or even miscarriages of justice e.g. one that on the face of it Trump got right (or at least the committee did) a certain Jaime A. Davidson that got fitted up for a cop killing "Although Mr. Davidson has been incarcerated for nearly 29 years, the admitted shooter has already been released from prison."  To be in the position to get fitted up would suggest he's not exactly a squeaky clean innocent citizen but justice should be ... just.

 

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I imagine Steve Bannon will have a lot of dirt on Trump. There is a reason why Trump is nice to that guy.

And now if Bannon is called as a witness in Trump trial, he cannot claim 5th amendment right against self incrimination and will have to testify. If he doesn't he can be indefinitely jailed for contempt of court & if he lies, he could be tried for perjury, neither of which Trump could pardon him for.

Where does this tradition of pardoning come from? Surely it is completely outdated and not suitable for a country which claims it is the greatest democracy in the world? 

8 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Where does this tradition of pardoning come from?

 

18 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution

 

So can trump pardon himself, then pardon himself again for the crime of pardoning himself when he couldn't pardon himself.

.