Latest news with #pardon
Associated Press
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
What to know about prisoners crafting clemency petitions to capture Trump's attention
ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — Clemency has come early and often in President Donald Trump's second term, prompting nearly 10,000 convicts to request pardons or commutations of their prison sentences. Trump has been criticized for wiping away convictions of political allies, former Republican officeholders and hundreds of people charged in the Capitol riot. In issuing such pardons and commutations, Trump has largely cast aside a process that historically has been overseen by nonpolitical personnel at the Justice Department who spent their days poring over clemency applications — thick packets filled with character references attesting to applicants' atonement and good deeds. Only those meeting strict criteria were then passed along to the White House. That approach has given prisoners like Chad Scott, a disgraced federal agent serving a 13-year sentence for corruption, hope at earning clemency by tailoring petitions to capture Trump's attention. Scott claimed, for example, that both he and the Republican president were victims of 'political persecution.' The former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent also noted that he and the president have survived gunshot wounds to the ear. Here are some key things to know about how Trump's approach is changing the world of clemency: Trump's approach to clemency has upended norms Legal experts say the flurry of petitions has been sparked by Trump's frequent grants of clemency since retaking office in January. The president has pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 1,600 people. Many of those granted mercy have been the president's political allies, campaign donors and fraudsters who claimed they were victims of a 'weaponized' Justice Department. Among those receiving clemency are a pair of reality TV stars, a straw donor who gave $900,000 to Trump's first inaugural committee and a Virginia sheriff sentenced to 10 years for deputizing several businessmen in exchange for cash payments. It's just part of the way the president has upended how clemency is handled. In the past, career Justice Department lawyers weighed remorse, the severity of the crime and the amount of time a prisoner has already served. Then they passed along recommendations to the White House. The process at the Justice Department is being overseen by a vocal Trump supporter: The president tapped Ed Martin Jr. to be the Justice Department's pardon attorney. Martin is a former defense lawyer who represented Jan. 6, 2021, rioters and promoted false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen by Democrats. That approach — and Trump's flurry of clemency grants — has created 'a free-for-all' for those seeking pardons and commutations, said Liz Oyer, the Justice Department's former pardon attorney, who was fired in March. 'The traditional process and practices,' she told The Associated Press, 'all seem to have fallen by the wayside.' Convicts believe Trump might hear them out Optimism behind bars has never been higher, says Eric Sanchez Chaparro, a prisoner seeking a commutation for a drug and weapons conviction that carried a 19-year sentence. 'In many ways I feel like he has the same point of view that we've got,' Chaparro told the AP, noting both he and the president were convicted felons. Trump was convicted last year on New York state charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to a porn star. Jonathan E. Woods, an early Trump supporter and former Arkansas state senator, is seeking a commutation of his 18-year sentence for a bribery conviction. 'President Trump is viewed as someone as having a big heart, nonjudgmental and someone who has been put through hell by a very imperfect legal system,' Woods wrote to the AP. 'Inmates view him as someone who will listen to them in hopes of going home early to their loves ones.' Scott, the former DEA agent, raises and trains service and therapy dogs behind bars in Kentucky. He named one of his most recent canines, a Labradane, Trump. The White House says Trump is acting 'reasonably' and righting 'many wrongs' Trump is hardly the first president to generate controversy over how he handled such powers. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, prompted bipartisan outrage in December when he pardoned his son Hunter, sparing him a possible prison sentence for felony gun and tax convictions. Biden also was sharply criticized — mainly by Republicans — for issuing preemptive pardons to protect lawmakers, former officials and his family members from what he described as a potentially vindictive Trump administration. Administration officials say Trump decides on clemency requests after they're vetted by the White House Counsel's Office, the White House pardon czar and the Justice Department. Reviewers have been focusing on nonviolent, rehabilitated criminals with compelling references, the officials said. The White House is also considering petitions from those serving unjustified sentences and what the administration deems 'over-prosecution.' 'President Trump doesn't need lectures from Democrats about his use of pardons, especially from those who supported a president who pardoned his corrupt son, shielded Dr. Fauci from accountability for the millions who suffered under his failed COVID leadership and backed the infamous 'kids-for-cash' judge who profited from incarcerating children,' White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in an email. 'President Trump is using his pardon and commutation powers to right many wrongs, acting reasonably and responsibly within his constitutional authority.' Legal experts see it much differently. 'What these pardons signal — together with everything else — is that all bets are now off,' said Frank Bowman, a legal historian and professor emeritus at the University of Missouri School of Law who's writing a book on pardons. 'It's a grotesque misuse of constitutional authority of a kind that has never been seen in American history.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joe Giudice Asks Trump for Presidential Pardon and Ability to Return to the U.S. 6 Years After He Was Deported
Joe Giudice is seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump The former Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member hopes to be granted American citizenship to be closer to his children The father of four and Bravo star was deported to his native Italy in 2019 after being indicted on federal fraud charges, but now lives in the BahamasJoe Giudice has a plea for President Donald Trump. The 53-year-old reality star, who was born in Italy but grew up in the U.S., is hoping the president, 79, can reunite him with his daughters by granting him a pardon. 'I'm Joe Giudice. I served my time, and I've been deported from the U.S. for nearly a decade,' the former Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member began as the caption to an Instagram post on Thursday, June 26. He continued, 'I was raised in Jersey, I'm a father of four amazing daughters, and I just want to be allowed to visit them again.' Giudice shares daughters Gia, Gabriella, Audriana and Milania with his ex-wife Teresa Giudice. All four of his girls appeared with him in the Instagram carousel, smiling and posing together for different photographs throughout the years. 'President Trump, I respect you and I'm asking for a second chance,' Joe concluded. Joe tagged both the president and Donald Trump Jr. in the post. 'If he can pardon the chrisleys he can pardon JOE!!!! ❤️❤️,' one person commented, referring to Chrisley Knows Best stars Todd Chrisley and his wife Julie Chrisley receiving presidential pardons from Trump. Teresa showed her support for Joe, writing, "🙏❤️." Joe and Teresa, 53, were indicted on federal fraud charges in 2013 and took turns serving time in prison. Teresa began with an 11-month jail sentence before Joe served 41 months and was later deported to his native Italy in 2019. Since then, he has relocated to the Bahamas. In May 2019, during Trump's first term as president, a source told PEOPLE that a pardon for Joe was not on Trump's radar. 'This has not reached the White House,' the source said. 'If it was worth it on the merits, this would be something, but just because [the Giudice family] is asking,' the source continued, adding, 'Thousands of people have through different means tried to bring different cases. The vast majority of them just don't warrant the decision.' Earlier this year, Joe revisited the possibility of Trump helping him with a pardon after Trump's reelection. "I got a lawyer working on something, but she's been working on it. Hasn't done anything yet. So I don't know. We'll see," Joe told Teresa during a January episode of her Turning The Tables podcast of his attempts to achieve American citizenship. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I did get in front of the embassy and they denied me because I guess I'm a big criminal,' he added, saying the process took "not even five minutes." Later in their conversation, he added, "When I met Trump, I mean, he was very nice to me. I was very nice to him when we were on his show over there. I don't know. I mean, I think he should get me back." Read the original article on People
Forbes
2 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Maryland Gov. Moore Grants 7,000 More Pardons In Cannabis Equity Push
OCTOBER 09: Governor Wes Moore speaks at an event in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty ... More Images for TIME) Recently Gov. Wes Moore announced a series of actions designed to close the racial wealth gap in Maryland's cannabis industry, including nearly 7,000 additional pardons for simple possession. The designations—seeking to right the wrongs of systemic flaws in the state—are set to take effect Tuesday. At a Juneteenth event last week, in front of a congregation at Bethel AME Church in Cambridge, the governor announced new Just Community designations to prioritize up to $400 million in competitive state investments in communities that have been disproportionately impacted through the years by cannabis policies. This follows the governor's clemency order he signed last year to pardon 175,000 convictions for possession. 'We know the racial wealth gap affects all of us. It hurts our economy; it restrains job growth and it limits our potential as a state,' said Gov. Moore. 'If you want a growing economy, you have to make sure it is an inclusive one. We cannot afford to simply 'meet' about the situation before us and delay progress—we need action. Together, we are going to continue the work of repair with action that delivers results.' The pardons will impact 6,938 convictions for simple cannabis possession. It's the largest pardon for misdemeanor cannabis possession charges for any state in the country, the governor's office announced. The additional pardons were coordinated with the Maryland Judiciary to review cases since the first order was signed last June. Maryland Just Communities and Other Actions Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development created recommendations to designate 419 of Maryland's 1,463 census tracts as Just Communities, made up of 17 counties and the City of Baltimore. The five-year designation will 'create priority consideration' for competitive state funding in FY 2026. 'The first-of-its-kind designation of Maryland's Just Communities is a critical step in lifting the barriers that create separate and unequal neighborhoods all across our state,' said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. 'Fostering fairer development and addressing inequity not only creates healthier, more resilient communities, but generates lasting social and economic well-being for all.' Per the governor's Expungement Reform Act, all pardoned cannabis possession offenses will be removed from public view by January 31, 2026. The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services will also address pardoned convictions on criminal background checks. Beyond cannabis, the governor announced a $1.3 billion investment in Maryland's Historically Black Colleges and Universities designed to help 1,500 Black Marylanders pursue homeownership. It also supports Maryland's Black-owned businesses with over $816 million in state procurement awards and will launch an effort to end concentrated poverty through the ENOUGH initiative. Disparities in cannabis ownership persist: For instance, only 10 percent of investors in Maryland's cannabis industry are people of color, data from the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) revealed in 2020. Actions like these seek to close the racial gap, first and foremost in the way cannabis convictions are addressed. Gov. Moore's administration has initiated several other equity-driven initiatives based in action to deliver results, including the launch of the Community Investment Venture Fund to help Maryland entrepreneurs of color secure access to capital to grow their businesses. The fund's first round of funding awards to address inequitable property appraisal values through the UPLIFT initiative and $4 million in funding to strengthen high-skill workforce development through the Roads to Careers program.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Mike Pence writes letter to Jan 6 rioter praising her for refusing to take Trump's pardon
A January 6 defendant who refused to accept a pardon from President Donald Trump has received a letter of gratitude from former Vice President Mike Pence, who called her decision to accept responsibility 'honorable.' Pamela Hemphill, a 72-year-old self-described 'Ex-MAGA granny,' spent two months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing at the Capitol in 2022. Hemphill, who has changed her position on Trump since her conviction, made headlines in January when she refused to accept the president's sweeping pardon for defendants. But on Tuesday, Hemphill said 'every heartache, smear campaign, and sleepless night' was worth it after receiving the letter of admiration from Pence. 'I am writing to express my admiration for your decision to refuse a presidential pardon and accept responsibility for your actions on January 6th,' Pence wrote to Hemphill. 'Your honorable decision speaks volumes about your commitment to the Rule of Law and I wanted to pass along my genuine respect. I am certain that your willingness to accept responsibility has inspired many Americans by your example of integrity and faith,' the former president wrote. Pence has publicly condemned the events of January 6, having experienced real threats when the angry mob of Trump supporters chanted 'hang Mike Pence.' At the time, Trump espoused lies about the 2020 presidential election being stolen, and misrepresented Pence's role in confirming election results – essentially pushing blame onto him despite Pence having no formal power to reverse the results. Since then, Pence has denounced Trump for downplaying the severity of the day and then pardoning more than 1,500 defendants when he returned to office. In his letter to Hemphill, Pence reiterated, 'I will always believe that I did my duty that day to see to the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States.' Hemphill, who is now an outspoken Trump opponent, refused to accept the president's pardon, saying she did not want to be part of 'Trump's narrative that the DOJ is weaponized.' 'I'm not a victim. I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, period. I mean, I was trespassing. I had a choice – I could have left,' Hemphill told The Daily Beast in 2023. A spokesperson for Pence confirmed the authenticity of the letter to The Hill.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Todd Chrisley's son Chase predicted drastic change his mom Julie would do after prison release
Todd and Julie Chrisley 's son says he knew what massive transformation his mother would go under after her pardon from US President Donald Trump and release from prison. Chase Chrisley, 29, revealed that he knew that his 52-year-old mom would go back to dyeing her hair back to platinum blonde. Julie became unrecognizable during her time in prison as it went back to her natural brunette color with big parts of it turning grey. Chase told People that he knew she would go back to her signature blonde locks in no time as he said: 'I knew she wasn't going to keep it the same.' The reality star also revealed that his dad Todd, 56, who also was released from prison, made a joke about his wife's hair color. Chase explained his dad's reaction: 'He said, "This would be the first time in my life I've ever been with a brunette."' He previously told Entertainment Tonight last month that he had encouraged his mother to bleach her hair. Chase said: 'I'm like, "Mama, we gotta go back platinum blonde."' This comes as his parents recently looked back on the life-changing pardons that freed them from federal prisons last month. In an upcoming interview with President Trump 's daughter-in-law Lara Trump for Fox News that was shared Tuesday via TMZ, Julie revealed how she was overcome by tears after her daughter Savannah called her with the news that she had received a presidential pardon after being convicted in 2022 of federal bank fraud and tax evasion charges. Todd also shared his reaction to the news, which was hilariously distinct from the response of his wife Julie, who showed off her standard blond locks after debuting a shocking jail makeover shortly after her release. The convicted fraudsters were joined by their two youngest children: 27-year-old Savannah — who has publicly proclaimed their innocence and advocated for their pardon for years — and their 19-year-old son Grayson, who had picked up Julie from prison after her pardon. Among the couple's missing children were their 35-year-old daughter Lindsie, who has been estranged from her family members, and Kyle, 33, who has also been estranged from his father but admitted he was 'ecstatic' to learn of his parents' pardon. Curiously, the family's middle child, 29-year-old Chase, was also nowhere to be seen during the triumphant interview. Julie revealed how she was overcome by tears after her daughter Savannah called her with the news that she had received a presidential pardon after being convicted in 2022 of federal bank fraud and tax evasion charges; pictured in a publicity still for Chrisley Knows Best In the interview, Julie recounted calling her daughter from prison and hearing Savannah shout, 'He did it! He signed [the pardon]!' Julie said she 'started busting out crying' after hearing those words. She added that everyone around the phone started staring at her emotional outburst, and it a fit of nervous she 'just hung up' on her daughter. 'It was the craziest thing, and everyone was just looking at me,' Julie said to laughter from her family and the host. She added that 'most of the news that you get in prison is bad news,' so people around her feared for the worst at the sight of her tears and began to ask her if she was all right after her fateful phone call. Todd then shared his own hilarious disparate reaction, which concerned prison guards because of the lack of waterworks. 'This guy stops me and he goes, "Man, I think you just got pardoned." And I said, "Yeah, OK." And I just kept right on walking,' Todd admitted. He said a corrections officer later approached him to ask if he was 'good' due to the bizarre lack of emotion he showed. 'I said, "As good as I can be." And he said, "Todd, you just got pardoned. They sent me down here to make sure you're OK." And I said, "Well they don't need to be worrying about me now. Hell, if I'm pardoned, I'm great."' But Todd took a more serious tone as he went on to say that his family owed 'thanks to God' for facilitating the pardon and leading President Trump to show them mercy. 'I'm grateful, because every night I would pray that God would return me home to my wife and my children,' he added in a low voice. 'And He did that, so I'm grateful.' Unlike his older siblings, Chase has apparently maintained a solid relationship with his parents like his two younger siblings. But he has seemingly been missing in action from the post-pardon celebrations that his family has engaged in. Earlier this year, Chase ran into trouble with the law when he was arrested after an alleged bar fight. According to a police report, he 'became really drunk' at a bar in Atlanta, Georgia, and 'started to act very disrespectful and belligerent.' When the bar manager asked him to leave because of his behavior, Chase allegedly ' slapped' the manager twice in the face. Chase has been oddly absent from his family's post-release celebrations. In January, he was arrested for assault for an alleged bar fight, and in late March he celebrated nearly a month of sobriety. He leaned into promoting her new non-alcoholic seltzer earlier this month His attorneys subsequently denied the details in the report, claiming that 'He did not assault anyone' and alleging that he was 'calling a driver to take him home' and 'trying to close out his tab and leave' before the alleged incident. In the wake of his arrest, Chase announced on March 29 that he was 'Almost one month alcohol free' and 'feeling better than I have in years.' He has also gone all out to promote his new non-alcoholic seltzer this month. After a nearly three-week jury trial, Todd and Julie were convicted in June 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta, Georgia area out of more than $30 million in personal loans by submitting false documents. They were also found guilty of wire fraud and tax evasion, obscuring their earnings while showcasing a luxurious lifestyle with expensive cars and designer clothes. After years of advocating for her parents' pardon, Savannah showed fealty to President Trump by transforming into a 'MAGA Barbie' with a hot-pink Trump-supporting outfit when she announced her parents' pardons on May 28. 'President Trump signed the pardons at around 3pm this afternoon and it's all due to President Trump, Alice Johnson, Ed Martin, all of them,' she told the crowd. 'They have truly just shown up and looked at [Todd and Julie's] case with a fine-tooth comb and they've seen the corruption.' After her call with Trump, Savannah said she arrived at her dad's prison in Pensacola at 2 in the morning on Wednesday and has been waiting there since. 'I have not gone to sleep. I did not bring any clothes with me. I did not bring a toothbrush with me. I brought absolutely nothing with me,' she revealed with a laugh. 'I'm just a daughter that wants to take my dad home with me.' When asked what Todd and Julie's reactions were to Trump's pardon, Savannah said that he was initially in total disbelief. 'They didn't believe it. [The pardon] literally came out of nowhere. As I said before, I was walking into the grocery store when I got the call from the president,' she explained. 'I was just in such shock and such awe that the president himself called me and took the time to let me know that my family's coming back together.' Savannah said that her and Trump's entire correspondence was captured 'on video' and that he had called to let her know that he was 'reuniting [her] family.' According to TMZ, production has already started on a new reality show for the Chrisleys, and a camera crew followed both Savannah and Grayson as they traveled to pick up their parents from prison. The couple's shock release will be a major storyline for the new show, according to members of the production. However, the show will be missing out on one particularly dramatic moment, as Trump's unexpected phone call to Savannah was reportedly not captured by Lifetime's camera crew.
