Here’s what legal experts are saying about Trump’s Manafort, Kushner pardons
On Wednesday night, December 23, President Donald Trump announced yet another round of pardons — and this time, they ranged from his 2016 campaign manager, Paul Manafort to Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law, White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner. Manafort and the older Kushner were both prosecuted for financial crimes, and Kushner was prosecuted for witness retaliation as well. In addition to the Manafort and Kushner pardons, Trump also pardoned his long-time ally Roger Stone, who was found guilty of obstruction of justice, witness tampering and other offenses. Trump had already commuted Stone's prison sentence, but on December 22, the president went a step further and gave Stone a full presidential pardon.
Trump has granted full pardons to Paul Manafort, Roger Stone and Charles Kushner.— Jim Acosta (@Jim Acosta) 1608769922
You truly did “Make America Great Again.” God Bless you & your family. I wish you a Merry Christmas & many good wishes for the coming years.— Paul Manafort (@Paul Manafort) 1608769921
The pardons of Manafort, Kushner, Stone and other Trump cronies aren't surprising, but that doesn't mean that the president's critics are finding them any less appalling. Here's what legal experts, politicians and media figures have been saying on Twitter about Trump's latest pardon sprees.
Which pardon so far is most inexcusable or angering and why? Doing some research.— Preet Bharara (@Preet Bharara) 1608778480
A silver lining: it’s clear Trump totally knows he’s gone in 28 days— Preet Bharara (@Preet Bharara) 1608777123
At this point the President basically has only two legal buttons left to push, one marked “pardon” and the other “v… https://t.co/j87SPLGykt— Elie Honig (@Elie Honig) 1608757501
It's important to remember that a presidential pardon reduces the ability of the recipient to invoke his Fifth Amen… https://t.co/aBicQhI2D4— George Conway🌻 (@George Conway🌻) 1608770831
A pardon is supposed to be an instrument of justice—not a tool of corruption.— Cory Booker (@Cory Booker) 1608772539
Outgoing President Trump pardons Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner’s father Charles, whom then-US Attor… https://t.co/90rQiu2w3J— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1608769721
During the Mueller investigation, Trump’s lawyer floated a pardon to Manafort. Manafort withdrew his cooperation w… https://t.co/9AFGTXVKSO— Adam Schiff (@Adam Schiff) 1608773197
Paul Manafort, after his pardon, can no longer assert his Fifth Amendment rights in connection to questions about R… https://t.co/ln5gk9NxWd— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1608775674
Ben Sasse on Trump's pardons of Manafort, Stone and others: "This is rotten to the core.”— Peter Baker (@Peter Baker) 1608775754
There is an entire pardon office in DOJ for a reason: to carefully consider all pardon apps, and to consult with th… https://t.co/V8SNWYdvLq— Daniel Goldman (@Daniel Goldman) 1608765781
Lindsey Graham to me nearly two years ago. https://t.co/PhlNIPz6Ae— Manu Raju (@Manu Raju) 1608772221
I wonder if Robert Mueller has any regrets this holiday season about whether he should have pursued an alternative… https://t.co/AeGR9Mx02X— Ayman (@Ayman) 1608774006
On top of people like Libby, D’Souza, Hunter, and Arpaio, the message is that there are no crimes if you’re Republican.— Ben Rhodes (@Ben Rhodes) 1608770538
Jeff Epstein should have hung in there, he’d be a free man tonight— David Frum (@David Frum) 1608772961
Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance’s office now responding to Trump’s pardon saying it “underscores the urgent need to hold… https://t.co/Iq4V7neZu3— Jane Mayer (@Jane Mayer) 1608770922
I'm glad @BuzzFeedNews and I and CNN spent nearly two years litigating for thousands of FBI interview summaries lik… https://t.co/jqrclzfujV— Jason Leopold (@Jason Leopold) 1608772072
Manhattan DA Cy Vance's office: "This action underscores the urgent need to hold Mr. Manafort accountable for his c… https://t.co/qoOSu4Z1rK— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin) 1608773119
Once one party allows the pardon power to become a tool of criminal enterprise, its danger to democracy outweighs i… https://t.co/gZsAd7agQM— Chris Murphy (@Chris Murphy) 1608771592
