"White House officials are weighing a plan for President Trump to issue 250 pardons as a way to mark the celebration of the nation's 250th birthday this summer, according to people familiar with the matter. The plan is still in preliminary discussions but, if carried out, would expand Trump's already wide use of the pardon power...Trump has been determined to put his imprint on the national celebration, known as the semiquincentennial."
"He has pushed for a National Garden of American Heroes featuring 250 life-size statues of figures including past presidents George Washington and Ronald Reagan and baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson. He has launched plans for the "Patriot Games," athletic competitions featuring high-schoolers. And he has commissioned the repainting of the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial."
"Obviously, the potential for chicanery contained within 250 presidential pardons granted in one great glob are virtually limitless. If the White House goes through with this plan, expect a long parade of corporate brigands, crypto kingpins, and other Trumpian "business leaders" to come marching in. Also expect a flood of gratitude to find its way toward various Trump priorities, including the Gilded Palace of Sin (Thanks, Gram), where the East Wing used to stand."
"Trump has expanded his use of the pardon in his second term, including a mass forgiveness of his supporters charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. He pardoned Changpeng Zhao, founder of world's largest crypto exchange Binance; Trevor Milton, convicted of defrauding investors in truck maker Nikola; and Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the crypto-fueled black market Silk Road."
White House officials are weighing a plan for President Trump to issue 250 pardons to mark the nation’s 250th birthday this summer. The plan is preliminary, but would expand Trump’s already wide use of the pardon power. Trump has sought to put his imprint on the semiquincentennial through projects such as a National Garden of American Heroes with 250 life-size statues, “Patriot Games” athletic competitions for high-schoolers, and repainting the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The prospect of granting many pardons at once raises concerns about potential wrongdoing and influence. Trump has used pardons extensively in his second term, including mass forgiveness for supporters charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, and pardons for figures tied to crypto and fraud cases.
#presidential-pardons #us-semiquincentennial #trump-administration #jan-6-pardons #crypto-and-fraud-cases
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