WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant political move, former President Donald Trump has granted pardons to allies including Rudy Giuliani, his former personal lawyer, and Mark Meadows, his ex-chief of staff, alongside others affiliated with Trump’s attempts to contest the 2020 election results, as announced by a Justice Department official.
The pardons, which were shared on social media by Ed Martin, the government’s pardon attorney, were described as being 'full, complete, and unconditional.' Alongside Giuliani and Meadows, the proclamation also includes conservative attorneys Sidney Powell and John Eastman, signaling a broad scope of support within circles close to Trump. It is worth noting that the pardon proclamation explicitly states that it does not extend to Trump himself.
While presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes and Trump's allies were not charged federally, this decision nonetheless highlights Trump's ongoing efforts to reshape the narrative surrounding the electoral loss to Democrat Joe Biden. The White House has yet to respond to inquiries about the pardons.
The list of pardoned individuals also includes Republicans implicated as fake electors during the 2020 election, who faced state charges for submitting fraudulent certificates confirming their legitimacy as electors despite Biden’s victory.
The proclamation characterized the prosecution of those involved in the election-related activities as 'a grave national injustice perpetrated on the American people.' It asserted that these pardons are part of a larger initiative aimed at 'the process of national reconciliation.'
The pardons, which were shared on social media by Ed Martin, the government’s pardon attorney, were described as being 'full, complete, and unconditional.' Alongside Giuliani and Meadows, the proclamation also includes conservative attorneys Sidney Powell and John Eastman, signaling a broad scope of support within circles close to Trump. It is worth noting that the pardon proclamation explicitly states that it does not extend to Trump himself.
While presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes and Trump's allies were not charged federally, this decision nonetheless highlights Trump's ongoing efforts to reshape the narrative surrounding the electoral loss to Democrat Joe Biden. The White House has yet to respond to inquiries about the pardons.
The list of pardoned individuals also includes Republicans implicated as fake electors during the 2020 election, who faced state charges for submitting fraudulent certificates confirming their legitimacy as electors despite Biden’s victory.
The proclamation characterized the prosecution of those involved in the election-related activities as 'a grave national injustice perpetrated on the American people.' It asserted that these pardons are part of a larger initiative aimed at 'the process of national reconciliation.'
