Trump announces 26 new pardons favoring allies Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Charles Kushner and others News
PublicDomainPictures / Pixabay
Trump announces 26 new pardons favoring allies Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Charles Kushner and others

President Trump announced 26 new pardons on Wednesday, including full pardons for his longtime ally Roger Stone, former campaign chairperson Paul Manafort, and Charles Kushner, the father of White House senior advisor Jared Kushner.

The US Department of Justice in November 2019 found Roger Stone guilty of obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress, and tampering with a witness. Trump claims “prosecutorial misconduct” by the Special Counsel Robert Mueller team and “political bias” at Stone’s jury trial.  Trump had previously commuted Stone’s 40-month sentence.

Paul Manafort pleaded guilty in September 2018 to counts of conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to commit money laundering, tax fraud, failing to file Foreign Bank Account Reports and Violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, lying to the Department of Justice, and witness tampering. The judge sentenced Manafort to 73 months in prison. Trump claimed there was “prosecutorial overreach” in the trial.

Trump pardoned Charles Kushner’s 2-year sentence for convictions including preparing false tax returns, witness retaliation and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. 

The other individuals included in this pardon list were convicted of crimes such as mail fraud, tax fraud and campaign finance violations.

Did you know that about 30 percent of charitable giving happens in December?
It’s an important month for nonprofits like JURIST that rely on donor support. Your gift of $50, $100, $200, or $500 will help JURIST to keep its legal news and commentary free and accessible to a worldwide public.

Thanks for your support!

DONATE NOW

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.