theguardian--2020-12-23--Trump pardons ex-campaign aide, Blackwater contractors and disgraced lawmakers

Donald Trump approved a wave of pre-Christmas pardons , granting clemency to a former campaign aide caught up in the Russia investigation , disgraced Republican lawmakers and several contractors convicted in a massacre in Iraq .
The White House announced on Tuesday Trump has granted full pardons to 15 people and commuted all or part of the sentences of five others .
The beneficiaries include George Papadopoulos , a former campaign aide who pleaded guilty to lying to federal officials as part of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election , and Alex van der Zwaan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Russia investigation and is the son-in-law of the Russian billionaire German Khan .
The three former Republican US representatives who were pardoned or had their sentences commuted on Tuesday were Chris Collins of New York , Duncan Hunter of California and Steve Stockman of Texas .
Collins , 70 , had been the first sitting member of Congress to endorse Trump ’ s candidacy in 2016 and was a strong defender of the president .
He pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit securities fraud and making false statements to the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 44 , pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiring to convert campaign funds for personal use and received a full pardon .
Stockman , 64 , was convicted in 2018 of misuse of charitable funds and had his sentence commuted after serving two of 10 years .
Also pardoned were Nicholas Slatten , Paul Slough , Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard , former contractors at Blackwater Worldwide who were serving lengthy prison terms in connection with the killings of civilians in a 2007 massacre in Baghdad .
Among those killed by the Blackwater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a mother who was clutching an infant .
Two former border patrol agents were also among those pardoned .
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were found guilty of crimes related to shooting an unarmed man who was smuggling marijuana in 2005 .
George W Bush commuted their sentences in 2009 , but did not grant a full pardon .
Trump ’ s use of the presidential pardon power has attracted considerable controversy , and the list of recipients on Tuesday drew strong rebuke from Democrats .
“ These corrupt politicians don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the Democratic California representative Katie Porter .
“ Appalling decision by the president.
” “ Are you still a pro-law enforcement President after you pardon killers of a 9-year old & an 11-year old ?
” asked Joyce Alene , a law professor at the University of Alabama and former US attorney for the northern district of Alabama , about the decision in the contractors ’ cases .
Adam Schiff , the Democratic congressman who prosecuted Trump ’ s impeachment trial , tweeted : “ Lie to cover up for the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politician who endorsed Trump ?
You get a pardon .
Murder innocent civilians ?
You get a pardon .
Elect a corrupt man as president ?
You get a corrupt result.
” While remarkable , Tuesday ’ s wave of decisions did not come as a surprise .
In November , Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn , who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation .
Speculation has flourished about whom Trump may pardon next .
The pardoning of Papadopoulos and Van der Zwaan may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter could expect pardons , including his former aides Paul Manafort and Rick Gates .
Trump ’ s attorney Rudy Giuliani ; the WikiLeaks founder , Julian Assange ; and the National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden are also among names commonly mentioned .
“ Today ’ s pardon helps correct the wrong that Mueller ’ s team inflicted on so many people , ” the White House said in a statement .
Papadopoulos , 33 , was an adviser to Trump ’ s 2016 campaign .
He pleaded guilty in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timing and significance of his contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials .
“ The defendant ’ s crime was serious and caused damage to the government ’ s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election , ” a sentencing recommendation memo from the then US special counsel Mueller said .
Papadopoulos served only 12 days of a 14-day sentence in federal prison , then was placed on a 12-month supervised release .
It has also been reported that Trump has considered issuing a pre-emptive pardon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have worked in his White House .
Pardons and other acts of clemency , often to ordinary federal prisoners , are a common feature of the end of any presidency .
According to the Pew Research Center , however , Trump “ has used his clemency power less often than any president in modern history ” .
“ While rare so far , ” Pew added , “ Trump ’ s use of presidential clemency has caused controversy because of the nature of his pardons and commutations .
Many of Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal or political connection to the president ’ , according to a July analysis by the Lawfare blog , and he has often circumvented the formal process through which clemency requests are typically considered.
” Applying only to federal cases , presidential pardons do not imply innocence of the charges in hand .
The Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut , a member of the Senate judiciary committee , said : “ I doubt government contractors who slaughtered civilians or corrupt congressional cronies were what the founders had in mind when they drafted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Trump is twisting this presidential power to reward allies who broke the law on his behalf , ” Blumenthal added .
Several critics of the president also pointed out that the administration was rushing through a number of federal executions while granting pardons to allies .
The administration has put 10 federal inmates to death and is scheduled to execute three more people in January , days before Joe Biden is inaugurated as the next president .
The White House cited Stockman ’ s age and health , and that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of its reasoning behind commuting his sentence .
However , nearly 6,000 people who have tested positive for the virus in federal prisons remain incarcerated , according to the Bureau of Prisons .
The president commuted the sentences of three civilians , Crystal Munoz , Tynice Nichole Hall , and Judith Negron , who had been convicted on drug and fraud-related charges .
He had previously granted them clemency , after the reality TV star Kim Kardashian West had advocated for them .

Martin Pengelly in New York and Maanvi Singh in San Francisco and agencies

Sign up for the Guardian’s First Thing newsletter
Donald Trump approved a wave of pre-Christmas pardons, granting clemency to a former campaign aide caught up in the Russia investigation, disgraced Republican lawmakers and four contractors convicted in a massacre in Iraq.
The White House announced on Tuesday Trump had granted full pardons to 15 people and commuted all or part of the sentences of five others. The beneficiaries include George Papadopoulos, a former campaign aide who pleaded guilty to lying to federal officials as part of the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, and Alex van der Zwaan, who pleaded guilty to a similar charge in the Russia investigation and is the son-in-law of the Russian billionaire German Khan.
The three former Republican US representatives who were pardoned or had their sentences commuted on Tuesday were Chris Collins of New York, Duncan Hunter of California and Steve Stockman of Texas.
Collins, 70, had been the first sitting member of Congress to endorse Trump’s candidacy in 2016 and was a strong defender of the president. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit securities fraud and making false statements to the FBI and received a full pardon.
Hunter, 44, pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiring to convert campaign funds for personal use and received a full pardon. Stockman, 64, was convicted in 2018 of misuse of charitable funds and had his sentence commuted after serving two of 10 years.
Also pardoned were Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard, former contractors at Blackwater Worldwide who were serving lengthy prison terms in connection with the killings of civilians in a 2007 massacre in Baghdad. Those killed by the Blackwater contractors included a nine-year-old child.
Blackwater, which was later renamed, was founded by Erik Prince, whose sister, Betsy DeVos was appointed Trump’s education secretary.
Two former border patrol agents were also among those pardoned. Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were found guilty of crimes related to shooting an unarmed man who was smuggling marijuana in 2005. George W Bush commuted their sentences in 2009, but did not grant a full pardon.
‘Appalling decision’
Trump’s use of the presidential pardon power has attracted considerable controversy, and the list of recipients on Tuesday drew strong rebuke from Democrats.
“These corrupt politicians don’t deserve a pardon,” said the Democratic California representative Katie Porter. “Appalling decision by the president.”
“Are you still a pro-law enforcement President after you pardon killers of a 9-year old & an 11-year old?” asked Joyce Alene, a law professor at the University of Alabama and former US attorney for the northern district of Alabama, about the decision in the contractors’ cases.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman who prosecuted Trump’s impeachment trial, tweeted: “Lie to cover up for the president? You get a pardon. Corrupt politician who endorsed Trump? You get a pardon. Murder innocent civilians? You get a pardon. Elect a corrupt man as president? You get a corrupt result.”
While remarkable, Tuesday’s wave of decisions did not come as a surprise. In November, Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation.
Speculation has flourished about whom Trump may pardon next. The pardoning of Papadopoulos and Van der Zwaan may signal that more Trump associates embroiled in the matter could expect pardons, including his former aides Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani; the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange; and the National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden are also among names commonly mentioned.
“Today’s pardon helps correct the wrong that Mueller’s team inflicted on so many people,” the White House said in a statement. Papadopoulos, 33, was an adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign. He pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to FBI agents about the timing and significance of his contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials.
“The defendant’s crime was serious and caused damage to the government’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election,” a sentencing recommendation memo from the then US special counsel Mueller said. Papadopoulos served only 12 days of a 14-day sentence in federal prison, then was placed on a 12-month supervised release.
It has also been reported that Trump has considered issuing a pre-emptive pardon for himself and members of his family who have worked in his White House.
Pardons and other acts of clemency, often to ordinary federal prisoners, are a common feature of the end of any presidency. According to the Pew Research Center, however, Trump “has used his clemency power less often than any president in modern history”.
“While rare so far,” Pew added, “Trump’s use of presidential clemency has caused controversy because of the nature of his pardons and commutations. Many of Trump’s clemency recipients have had a ‘personal or political connection to the president’, according to a July analysis by the Lawfare blog, and he has often circumvented the formal process through which clemency requests are typically considered.”
Applying only to federal cases, presidential pardons do not imply innocence of the charges in hand.
The Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a member of the Senate judiciary committee, said: “I doubt government contractors who slaughtered civilians or corrupt congressional cronies were what the founders had in mind when they drafted the pardon clause.
“Most despicably, President Trump is twisting this presidential power to reward allies who broke the law on his behalf,” Blumenthal added.
Several critics of the president also pointed out that the administration was rushing through a number of federal executions while granting pardons to allies. The administration has put 10 federal inmates to death and is scheduled to execute three more people in January, days before Joe Biden is inaugurated as the next president.
The White House cited Stockman’s age and health, and that he contracted Covid-19 while in prison, as part of its reasoning behind commuting his sentence. However, nearly 6,000 people who have tested positive for the virus in federal prisons remain incarcerated, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
The president commuted the sentences of three civilians, Crystal Munoz, Tynice Nichole Hall, and Judith Negron, who had been convicted on drug and fraud-related charges. He had previously granted them clemency, after the reality TV star Kim Kardashian West had advocated for them.
Reuters contributed to this report.


theguardian--2020-12-22--US poised for deadliest year ever as pandemic cuts life expectancy, experts say

The US is on track to record its deadliest year in history , largely due to the pandemic , as public health experts say overall life expectancy for 2020 could drop by as much as three years .
Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months , but preliminary numbers suggest the country will see more than 3.2 million deaths this year .
That would be the first time annual deaths have cracked 3 million and would make 2020 the deadliest year on record .
US deaths increase most years , so some annual rise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers are expected to amount to a jump of about 15 % , which would mark the largest single-year percentage leap since 1918 , when tens of thousands of US soldiers died in the first world war and hundreds of thousands of Americans died in the 1918 flu pandemic .
Meanwhile , life expectancy could drop as much as three full years , said Robert Anderson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) on Tuesday .
In 2019 , life expectancy hit 78.8 years , up 0.1 from 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stemmed from decreased death rates in heart disease and cancer , the leading and second-leading causes of death in the US .
Drug overdose deaths increased after dropping in 2018 but suicides declined for the first time in 14 years .
According to data from Johns Hopkins University , 190,519 new cases in the US on Monday saw the Covid-19 caseload pass 18m .
By Tuesday evening , there had been more than 320,000 deaths , 1,696 of them on the day before .
For comparison , in 2019 around 659,000 people died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 600,000 from cancer .
The third-leading cause of death , accidents , killed around 173,000 .
Vaccines are coming on stream , with public figures having shots to encourage widespread take-up , Joe Biden among them on Monday .
Dr Anthony Fauci , the top public health expert , was among those vaccinated on Tuesday .
The latest figures come as the US Congress is finalizing a new round of Covid relief funding , the first to be passed since the early days of the pandemic .
Donald Trump , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief package , suggesting that he may not sign it without changes .
The package was passed by Congress on Monday night following months of protracted negotiations .
In a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday , Trump complained that the bill delivered too much money to foreign countries , but not enough to Americans .
The bill provides for a $ 600 payment to most Americans , but Trump said he is asking Congress to amend the bill and “ increase the ridiculously low $ 600 to $ 2,000 , or $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also asking Congress to get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill.
” Elsewhere , amid concern over the new virus variation detected in the UK , US officials sought to assuage fears , saying it should be monitored but its discovery should not be cause for despair .
The health secretary Alex Azar , who was also vaccinated , told Fox News both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines should be effective at preventing illness from the recently discovered variant .
The BioNTech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters : “ Scientifically it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine can also deal with this virus variant.
” Fauci told ABC surveillance was necessary to monitor spread of the British variant , but that officials should not overreact .
“ Travel bans are really rather draconian things to do , ” he said .
In other news on Tuesday , Dr Deborah Birx , a senior Trump adviser who has seen her reputation battered by the White House taskforce ’ s failure to combat the pandemic , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army medic told the Newsy website she wanted to help the incoming Biden administration “ in any role that people think I can be helpful in , and then I will retire ” .
Elsewhere , Mike Pence addressed a rightwing conference in Florida at which social distancing and mask-wearing were not in evidence while in Washington , Trump chose to boast about vaccine distribution , which he said was “ going very smoothly ” .
Despite reported glitches for which the general in charge of the operation apologised , more than 600,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received their first vaccine doses by Monday , according to the CDC .
Some states began vaccinating long-term care facility residents on Monday .
Nonetheless , some models predict a death toll of more than 500,000 by the spring , and more than 5,000 deaths a day .
Robert Anderson , who leads the CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality-statistics section , told the Journal he used data through August to determine that life expectancy had dropped by approximately 1.5 years .
“ We ’ ve had a lot of deaths added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop of two to three years for 2020 isn ’ t out of the question , ” he said .
Anderson explained that this would be the greatest decrease since 1943 , when fatalities in the second world war led to a 2.9 year decline in life expectancy .
Twenty-five years before that , the Spanish flu resulted in an 11.8-year decline in life expectancy , Anderson said .
That sweeping figure stemmed from the fact that virus was especially deadly for children , whose deaths led to a disproportionate decline in life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson of the University of New Hampshire , reportedly said the pandemic will cause deaths to outpace births in more than 50 % of US counties this year – the first time in US history .
Such a reversal would come after the US saw its lowest recorded general fertility rate in 2019 .
“ We ’ ve got people dying and hospital rooms jammed , ” Johnson said .
“ Who ’ s going to want to have a baby ?
”

The US is on track to record its deadliest year in history, largely due to the pandemic, as public health experts say overall life expectancy for 2020 could drop by as much as three years.
Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months, but preliminary numbers suggest the country will see more than 3.2 million deaths this year. That would be the first time annual deaths have cracked 3 million and would make 2020 the deadliest year on record.
US deaths increase most years, so some annual rise in fatalities is expected. But the 2020 numbers are expected to amount to a jump of about 15%, which would mark the largest single-year percentage leap since 1918, when tens of thousands of US soldiers died in the first world war and hundreds of thousands of Americans died in the 1918 flu pandemic.
Meanwhile, life expectancy could drop as much as three full years, said Robert Anderson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday.
In 2019, life expectancy hit 78.8 years, up 0.1 from 2018, the CDC said. The increase stemmed from decreased death rates in heart disease and cancer, the leading and second-leading causes of death in the US. Drug overdose deaths increased after dropping in 2018 but suicides declined for the first time in 14 years.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, 190,519 new cases in the US on Monday saw the Covid-19 caseload pass 18m. By Tuesday evening, there had been more than 320,000 deaths, 1,696 of them on the day before.
For comparison, in 2019 around 659,000 people died of heart disease in America, and around 600,000 from cancer. The third-leading cause of death, accidents, killed around 173,000.
Vaccines are coming on stream, with public figures having shots to encourage widespread take-up, Joe Biden among them on Monday. Dr Anthony Fauci, the top public health expert, was among those vaccinated on Tuesday.
The latest figures come as the US Congress is finalizing a new round of Covid relief funding, the first to be passed since the early days of the pandemic.
Donald Trump, however, has assailed the bipartisan $900bn pandemic relief package, suggesting that he may not sign it without changes. The package was passed by Congress on Monday night following months of protracted negotiations.
In a video posted to Twitter on Tuesday, Trump complained that the bill delivered too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans.
The bill provides for a $600 payment to most Americans, but Trump said he was asking Congress to amend the bill and “increase the ridiculously low $600 to $2,000, or $4,000 for a couple. I am also asking Congress to get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation and to send me a suitable bill.”
Elsewhere, amid concern over the new virus variation detected in the UK, US officials sought to assuage fears, saying it should be monitored but its discovery should not be cause for despair.
The health secretary Alex Azar, who was also vaccinated, told Fox News both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines should be effective at preventing illness from the recently discovered variant.
The BioNTech chief executive, Ugur Sahin, told reporters: “Scientifically it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine can also deal with this virus variant.”
Fauci told ABC surveillance was necessary to monitor spread of the British variant, but that officials should not overreact.
A patient in a Covid-19 intensive care unit in Houston, Texas. Photograph: Go Nakamura/Getty Images
“Travel bans are really rather draconian things to do,” he said.
In other news on Tuesday, Dr Deborah Birx, a senior Trump adviser who has seen her reputation battered by the White House taskforce’s failure to combat the pandemic, said she would retire.
The former US army medic told the Newsy website she wanted to help the incoming Biden administration “in any role that people think I can be helpful in, and then I will retire”.
Elsewhere, Mike Pence addressed a rightwing conference in Florida at which social distancing and mask-wearing were not in evidence while in Washington, Trump chose to boast about vaccine distribution, which he said was “going very smoothly”.
Despite reported glitches for which the general in charge of the operation apologised, more than 600,000 Americans, mostly healthcare workers, had received their first vaccine doses by Monday, according to the CDC. Some states began vaccinating long-term care facility residents on Monday.
Nonetheless, some models predict a death toll of more than 500,000 by the spring, and more than 5,000 deaths a day.
Robert Anderson, who leads the CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality-statistics section, told the Journal he used data through August to determine that life expectancy had dropped by approximately 1.5 years.
“We’ve had a lot of deaths added since August, so I think a drop of two to three years for 2020 isn’t out of the question,” he said.
Anderson explained that this would be the greatest decrease since 1943, when fatalities in the second world war led to a 2.9-year decline in life expectancy.
Twenty-five years before that, the Spanish flu resulted in an 11.8-year decline in life expectancy, Anderson said. That sweeping figure stemmed from the fact that the virus was especially deadly for children, whose deaths led to a disproportionate decline in life expectancy.
One demographer, Kenneth M Johnson of the University of New Hampshire, reportedly said the pandemic will cause deaths to outpace births in more than 50% of US counties this year – the first time in US history. Such a reversal would come after the US saw its lowest recorded general fertility rate in 2019.
“We’ve got people dying and hospital rooms jammed,” Johnson said. “Who’s going to want to have a baby?”


theguardian--2020-12-23--Biden must be our 'climate president'. He can start by ending pipeline projects | Faith Spotted Eagl

Biden must be our 'climate president'. He can start by ending pipeline projects | Faith Spotted Eagle and Kendall Mackey

As we prepare to turn the page on 2020 , and inaugurate Joe Biden as president on 20 January 2021 , the incoming administration has a climate mandate to listen to people across America – and keep fossil fuels in the ground .
This means stopping the Keystone XL , Dakota Access and Line 3 pipelines on day one .
While Trump props up failing fossil fuel companies , including through government handouts from Covid-19 stimulus packages to the tune of $ 15bn , Biden has already committed to transitioning the United States off oil , holding polluters accountable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ XL pipeline .
In August , Joe Biden laid out his $ 2tn climate plan , which has the support of Indigenous peoples and their allies , Black communities and environmental voters .
Biden ’ s climate plan is the most ambitious plan of a major party presidential nominee ever .
To be the most ambitious climate president ever , Biden must implement a climate test on all federal permitting and projects , to ensure any project not aligned with tackling the climate crisis and keeping warming under 1.5 degrees does not move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep fossil fuels in the ground .
Just last week , Biden announced New Mexico Congresswoman Deb Haaland as his nominee for US secretary of the interior .
Haaland is a member of the Pueblo Laguna tribe ; if confirmed she will be the first Native person to serve in the role .
We hope her leadership will help protect our public lands and Indigenous sovereignty as we phase out fossil fuels .
As we write , communities across Minnesota are rising up to protect land , water , and treaty rights as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are filed in opposition .
Meanwhile , communities in South Dakota are mobilizing to pressure Biden to rescind the permit for Keystone XL and end the project once and for all .
If built , Line 3 would release as much greenhouse gas pollution as 50 new coal-fired power plants , violate Ojibwe and Chippewa treaty rights , and put Minnesota ’ s water , ecosystems and communities in harm ’ s way .
Keystone XL would have a similarly devastating impact on water , land , people and the Oceti Sakowin tribes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pipeline projects have blatantly refused meaningful consultation with the tribes impacted .
This is glaringly disrespectful to grassroots dedication in territories that have stood up to this invasion for years , as well as a denial of the irreversible impact these pipelines will have on cultural and spiritual sites .
Projects like Line 3 and Keystone XL are also directly linked to violence against and trafficking of Native women and girls , due to the installation of temporary housing for mostly male pipeline workers , known as “ man camps ” .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 , drawing thousands of out-of-state workers .
South Dakota is at a crisis point with Covid-19 cases , yet the threat of Keystone XL construction looms .
There is increasing anticipation of violence from militarized police partnered with Enbridge , the Canadian pipeline company backing Line 3 , triggering memories of violence against water protectors and allies in the fight to halt the Dakota Access Pipeline ( DAPL ) .
In the shadow of centuries of genocide and erasure of Indigenous peoples , Barack Obama halted DAPL and rejected Keystone XL .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ build upon this legacy and stop Line 3 , Keystone XL and DAPL .
Stopping these pipelines is completely within Joe Biden ’ s purview and responsibility .
Through executive action , Biden can order an immediate pause on oil pipeline construction , and a moratorium on any new projects or expansions , as he reviews Trump-era approvals for conflict or undue influence from the fossil fuel industry .
Biden must also reverse over 100 environmental and climate protection rollbacks brought on by the Trump administration .
But to be a true climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just as pipelines will inevitably spill , any new or existing fossil fuel project would inevitably fail a climate test .
There is no safe or clean way to extract , transport , or refine coal , oil or gas without poisoning our communities and driving us past 1.5℃ of warming .
In addition , the construction , transport and burning of fossil fuels have grave impacts on public health and safety , including premature death , lung cancer , and increased rates of Covid-19 .
From the Keystone XL Promise to Protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tens of thousands of people are prepared to wield our sacred and patriotic duty to stop these toxic and unnecessary fossil fuel projects .
In addition , thousands of people have already sent petitions to Joe Biden urging him to halt these projects .
It ’ s time to make polluters pay for the damages done to our communities ’ health , land and wellbeing .
This starts with stopping fossil fuel projects and returning land to Indigenous peoples .
Ultimately , we must dismantle existing projects and fund a just and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ renewable economy .
The stakes are higher than ever – economically , socially and politically .
Biden must show guts in holding coal , oil and gas executives accountable for knowingly bringing climate disasters , pollution , sickness , and death to our doorsteps .
It ’ s our time to leap toward a renewable energy revolution that centers Indigenous sovereignty , community health , and a safe , livable future for all .
• None Faith Spotted Eagle is a Yankton Sioux Tribe member , an opponent of pipeline projects including Keystone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the first Indigenous person to win an electoral vote for president

As we prepare to turn the page on 2020, and inaugurate Joe Biden as president on 20 January 2021, the incoming administration has a climate mandate to listen to people across America – and keep fossil fuels in the ground. This means stopping the Keystone XL, Dakota Access and Line 3 pipelines on day one.
While Trump props up failing fossil fuel companies, including through government handouts from Covid-19 stimulus packages to the tune of $15bn, Biden has already committed to transitioning the United States off oil, holding polluters accountable, honoring treaty rights and stopping the Keystone XL pipeline.
In August, Joe Biden laid out his $2tn climate plan, which has the support of Indigenous peoples and their allies, Black communities and environmental voters. Biden’s climate plan is the most ambitious plan of a major party presidential nominee ever. To be the most ambitious climate president ever, Biden must implement a climate test on all federal permitting and projects, to ensure any project not aligned with tackling the climate crisis and keeping warming under 1.5 degrees does not move forward. A meaningful climate test must keep fossil fuels in the ground.
Just last week, Biden announced the New Mexico congresswoman Deb Haaland as his nominee for US secretary of the interior. Haaland is a member of the Pueblo Laguna tribe; if confirmed she will be the first Native person to serve in the role. We hope her leadership will help protect our public lands and Indigenous sovereignty as we phase out fossil fuels.
As we write, communities across Minnesota are rising up to protect land, water and treaty rights as Line 3 pipeline construction begins and lawsuits are filed in opposition. Meanwhile, communities in South Dakota are mobilizing to pressure Biden to rescind the permit for Keystone XL and end the project once and for all.
If built, Line 3 would release as much greenhouse gas pollution as 50 new coal-fired power plants, violate Ojibwe treaty rights, and put Minnesota’s water, ecosystems and communities in harm’s way. Keystone XL would have a similarly devastating impact on water, land, people and the Oceti Sakowin tribes’ treaty and inherent rights.
Both pipeline projects have blatantly refused meaningful consultation with the tribes impacted. This is glaringly disrespectful to grassroots dedication in territories that have stood up to this invasion for years, as well as a denial of the irreversible impact these pipelines will have on cultural and spiritual sites.
Projects like Line 3 and Keystone XL are also directly linked to violence against and trafficking of Native women and girls, due to the installation of temporary housing for mostly male pipeline workers, known as “man camps”. These man camps are also a hotbed for Covid-19, drawing thousands of out-of-state workers. South Dakota is at a crisis point with Covid-19 cases, yet the threat of Keystone XL construction looms.
There is increasing anticipation of violence from militarized police partnered with Enbridge, the Canadian pipeline company backing Line 3, triggering memories of violence against water protectors and allies in the fight to halt the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
In the shadow of centuries of genocide and erasure of Indigenous peoples, Barack Obama halted DAPL and rejected Keystone XL. Now, Biden has a chance to build upon this legacy and stop Line 3, Keystone XL and DAPL.
Stopping these pipelines is completely within Joe Biden’s purview and responsibility. Through executive action, Biden can order an immediate pause on oil pipeline construction, and a moratorium on any new projects or expansions, as he reviews Trump-era approvals for conflict or undue influence from the fossil fuel industry. Biden must also reverse over 100 environmental and climate protection rollbacks brought on by the Trump administration.
But to be a true climate president, Biden must go further. Just as pipelines will inevitably spill, any new or existing fossil fuel project would inevitably fail a climate test. There is no safe or clean way to extract, transport, or refine coal, oil or gas without poisoning our communities and driving us past 1.5C of warming. In addition, the construction, transport and burning of fossil fuels have grave impacts on public health and safety, including premature death, lung cancer and increased rates of Covid-19.
From the Keystone XL Promise to Protect to the Line 3 Pledge of Resistance, tens of thousands of people are prepared to wield our sacred and patriotic duty to stop these toxic and unnecessary fossil fuel projects. In addition, thousands of people have already sent petitions to Joe Biden urging him to halt these projects.
It’s time to make polluters pay for the damages done to our communities’ health, land and wellbeing. This starts with stopping fossil fuel projects and returning land to Indigenous peoples. Ultimately, we must dismantle existing projects and fund a just and equitable transition to a regenerative 100% renewable economy.
The stakes are higher than ever – economically, socially and politically. Biden must show guts in holding coal, oil and gas executives accountable for knowingly bringing climate disasters, pollution, sickness and death to our doorsteps.
It’s our time to leap toward a renewable energy revolution that centers Indigenous sovereignty, community health, and a safe, livable future for all.


theguardian--2020-12-24--Donald Trump's latest wave of pardons includes Paul Manafort and Charles Kushner

Donald Trump has pardoned another 26 people in his second big wave of clemency actions since Tuesday , marking yet another audacious application of presidential power to reward loyalists .
The US president pardoned his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort , his longtime adviser Roger Stone , and Charles Kushner , the father of his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner .
Stone , a longtime friend and associate , had his sentence for a series of charges related to the Russia investigation commuted by the president in July .
In total , Trump pardoned or issued commutations to 29 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wife of Duncan Hunter , the former Republican representative of California , who was pardoned yesterday .
Trump ’ s latest set of pre-Christmas pardons follows a brazen round of pardons and commutations granted on Tuesday .
The president issued 15 pardons and five commutations to allies , including two figures who plead guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s inquiry on Russian interference in the 2016 US elections .
On Tuesday , the president pardoned George Papadopoulos , a former adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to federal officials during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ der Zwaan , a Dutch lawyer and son-in-law of the Russian billionaire German Khan .
Van der Zwaan had pleaded guilty to similar charges .
Papadopoulos and Van der Zwaan were the third and fourth people pardoned for charges in connection to the Russia inquiry .
In November , Trump pardoned his first national security adviser , Michael Flynn , who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with a Russian official .
The president , who has long derided the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dole out pardons to those implicated in the inquiry .
Tuesday ’ s rash of pardons was also bestowed upon four former Blackwater contractors who were convicted on charges related to a 2007 massacre in Iraq .
The four men , part of a security convoy , fired indiscriminately at civilians , killing 14 people – including a nine-year-old child .
The move drew harsh criticism , including from the families of those who were killed .
Adil al-Khazali , whose father Ali was killed in the attack , said in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Under the US constitution , the president has broad , unilateral pardon powers , but pardons are traditionally reviewed by the justice department .
Many of Trump ’ s pardons , however , seem to clash with department standards – and are instead bestowed as a means to reward allies or act on grudges .
Only five of 65 pardons and commutations Trump issued before Wednesday were recommended by the justice department pardon attorney , according to a tally by the Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith .
Manafort , 71 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax fraud , bank fraud and money laundering .
Stone , 68 , was convicted of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election .
“ Mr President , my family & I humbly thank you for the Presidential Pardon you bestowed on me .
Words can not fully convey how grateful we are , ” Manafort tweeted on Wednesday night .
A presidential pardon does not shield someone from state charges , and the Manhattan district attorney , Cyrus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecute Manafort for state crimes .
Trump ’ s pardon “ underscores the urgent need to hold Mr Manafort accountable for his crimes against the People of New York as alleged in our indictment , and we will continue to pursue our appellate remedies ” , Danny Frost , a spokesman for Vance , told CNBC .
A judge had previously blocked Vance from advancing his case , to protect Manafort from being prosecuted twice for the same crimes .
A Trump lawyer reportedly offered pardons to Manafort and Flynn as they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the pardons were proffered in exchange for loyalty to Trump .
The New York Times first reported the news in 2018 .
In his report following the investigation , Mueller wrote : “ Many of the president ’ s acts directed at witnesses , including discouragement of cooperation with the government and suggestions of possible future pardons , occurred in public view.
” Adam Schiff , the Democratic representative of California who prosecuted the impeachment trial of Trump , said : “ During the Mueller investigation , Trump ’ s lawyer floated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his cooperation with prosecutors , lied , was convicted , and then Trump praised him for not ‘ ratting ’ .
Trump ’ s pardon now completes the corrupt scheme.
” The congressman also noted that many serving time in federal prisons had been convicted of non-violent crimes and deserved a reprieve .
“ But who does Trump pardon ?
Those who lie , cheat or steal for him and his family , ” Schiff said .
Charles Kushner , 66 , pleaded guilty to tax evasion and lying to the Federal Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witness tampering , after he retaliated against his brother-in-law William Schulder , who was cooperating with federal investigators .
Kushner was accused of hiring a sex worker to seduce Schulder , videotaping the encounter and sending the tape to Schulder ’ s wife – Kushner ’ s sister .
Another twist : Kushner was prosecuted by Chris Christie , a former US attorney and New Jersey governor who has been a Trump loyalist .
The executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics , said : “ In pardoning Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Trump has made it clear that he believes the purpose of the pardon is to bail out rich white men connected to him .
Trump has turned an instrument of mercy and justice into just another way for him to be corrupt.
” Ben Sasse , a Republican senator of Nebraska , issued a more succinct statement in reaction to the pardons : “ This is rotten to the core.
” It is unclear whether the president will issue more pardons , which the White House has discussed handing out “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
The White House , which daily shares the president ’ s public schedule with media , said that on Christmas Eve Trump will be in Florida and “ as the Holiday season approaches , President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People .
His schedule includes many meetings and calls .
”

Donald Trump has pardoned another 26 people in his second big wave of clemency actions since Tuesday, marking yet another audacious application of presidential power to reward loyalists.
The US president pardoned his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, his longtime adviser Roger Stone, and Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.
Stone, a longtime friend and associate, had his sentence for a series of charges related to the Russia investigation commuted by the president in July.
In total, Trump pardoned or issued commutations to 29 people on Wednesday, including Margaret Hunter, the wife of Duncan Hunter, the former Republican representative of California, who was pardoned yesterday.
Trump’s latest set of pre-Christmas pardons follows a brazen round of pardons and commutations granted on Tuesday. The president issued 15 pardons and five commutations to allies, including two figures who plead guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry on Russian interference in the 2016 US elections.
On Tuesday, the president pardoned George Papadopoulos, a former adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to federal officials during the Russia investigation, and Alex van der Zwaan, a Dutch lawyer and son-in-law of the Russian billionaire German Khan. Van der Zwaan had pleaded guilty to similar charges.
Charles Kushner, center, arrives at the Newark federal court for sentencing in 2005. Photograph: Marko Georgiev/AP
Papadopoulos and Van der Zwaan were the third and fourth people pardoned for charges in connection to the Russia inquiry. In November, Trump pardoned his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with a Russian official. The president, who has long derided the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as a “hoax”, has been expected to dole out pardons to those implicated in the inquiry.
Tuesday’s rash of pardons was also bestowed upon four former Blackwater contractors who were convicted on charges related to a 2007 massacre in Iraq. The four men, part of a security convoy, fired indiscriminately at civilians, killing 14 people – including a nine-year-old child. The move drew harsh criticism, including from the families of those who were killed. Adil al-Khazali, whose father Ali was killed in the attack, said in response: “Justice doesn’t exist.”
Under the US constitution, the president has broad, unilateral pardon powers, but pardons are traditionally reviewed by the justice department. Many of Trump’s pardons, however, seem to clash with department standards – and are instead bestowed as a means to reward allies or act on grudges. Only five of 65 pardons and commutations Trump issued before Wednesday were recommended by the justice department pardon attorney, according to a tally by the Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith.
Manafort, 71, was sentenced for convictions including unregistered lobbying, tax fraud, bank fraud and money laundering. Stone, 68, was convicted of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. “Mr President, my family & I humbly thank you for the Presidential Pardon you bestowed on me. Words cannot fully convey how grateful we are,” Manafort tweeted on Wednesday night.
Wednesday’s 26 pardons followed 15 pardons and five commutations on Tuesday. Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Getty Images
A presidential pardon does not shield someone from state charges, and the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr, is still looking to prosecute Manafort for state crimes. Trump’s pardon “underscores the urgent need to hold Mr Manafort accountable for his crimes against the People of New York as alleged in our indictment, and we will continue to pursue our appellate remedies”, Danny Frost, a spokesman for Vance, told CNBC. A judge had previously blocked Vance from advancing his case, to protect Manafort from being prosecuted twice for the same crimes.
A Trump lawyer reportedly offered pardons to Manafort and Flynn as they were approached by federal investigators – raising suspicions that the pardons were proffered in exchange for loyalty to Trump. The New York Times first reported the news in 2018. In his report following the investigation, Mueller wrote: “Many of the president’s acts directed at witnesses, including discouragement of cooperation with the government and suggestions of possible future pardons, occurred in public view.”
Adam Schiff, the Democratic representative of California who prosecuted the impeachment trial of Trump, said: “During the Mueller investigation, Trump’s lawyer floated a pardon to Manafort. Manafort withdrew his cooperation with prosecutors, lied, was convicted, and then Trump praised him for not ‘ratting’. Trump’s pardon now completes the corrupt scheme.”
“Lawless until the bitter end,” Schiff tweeted.
The congressman also noted that many serving time in federal prisons had been convicted of non-violent crimes and deserved a reprieve. “But who does Trump pardon? Those who lie, cheat or steal for him and his family,” Schiff said.
Charles Kushner, 66, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and lying to the Federal Election Commission. He also pleaded guilty to witness tampering, after he retaliated against his brother-in-law William Schulder, who was cooperating with federal investigators. Kushner was accused of hiring a sex worker to seduce Schulder, videotaping the encounter and sending the tape to Schulder’s wife – Kushner’s sister.
Another twist: Kushner was prosecuted by Chris Christie, a former US attorney and New Jersey governor who has been a Trump loyalist.
The executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, said: “In pardoning Paul Manafort, Roger Stone and Charles Kushner, President Trump has made it clear that he believes the purpose of the pardon is to bail out rich white men connected to him. Trump has turned an instrument of mercy and justice into just another way for him to be corrupt.”
Ben Sasse, a Republican senator of Nebraska, issued a more succinct statement in reaction to the pardons: “This is rotten to the core.”
It is unclear whether the president will issue more pardons, which the White House has discussed handing out “like Christmas gifts”, Axios has reported. The White House, which daily shares the president’s public schedule with media, said that on Christmas Eve Trump will be in Florida and “as the Holiday season approaches, President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People. His schedule includes many meetings and calls.”


theguardian--2020-12-24--Who has Donald Trump just pardoned? A guide to the key figures

Donald Trump has granted pardons and commuted the sentences of more than 40 people since Tuesday , many of them former aides and longtime loyalists .
They include several former campaign figures , multiple former Republican lawmakers , a Dutch lawyer charged as part of the Russia investigation , the father of Trump ’ s son-in-law , Jared Kushner , and four former government contractors convicted of killing Iraqi civilians .
Here is what you need to know about the key figures .
Paul Manafort is the disgraced former chairman of Donald Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half years in prison for charges that emerged from the Russia investigation .
Manafort was once a high-flying lobbyist , serving as a consultant to the former Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi and the former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos .
He worked for Trump ’ s election campaign for five months in 2016 .
Manafort , 70 , was among the first in Trump ’ s inner circle to face charges brought by the special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Trump has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation , including the former national security adviser Michael Flynn , and campaign adviser George Papadopoulos .
Manafort had been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine .
However , he was released from prison in May of this year over coronavirus concerns , and was due to serve out the rest of his sentence under home confinement .
Trump ’ s pardon will spare Manafort from serving the bulk of term .
Roger Stone is a longtime friend of Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with political figures including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan .
Stone , 67 , was convicted in November 2019 of lying under oath and obstructing a congressional investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election .
In the process of the Trump-Russia investigation , which led to a string of indictments , Mueller and his team also revealed evidence of communications between Stone and WikiLeaks related to the release of hacked Democratic party emails .
Stone was sentenced to more than three years in jail , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he entered prison .
In a rare public statement following that earlier commutation , Mueller wrote : “ The Russia investigation was of paramount importance .
Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes .
He remains a convicted felon , and rightly so.
” Charlie Kushner is the father of Trump ’ s son-in-law , Jared Kushner .
He was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in 2004 to 18 counts of tax evasion and making unlawful campaign donations .
Kushner was also charged with witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brother-in-law William Schulder , who was cooperating with federal investigators .
Kushner was accused of hiring a sex worker to seduce Schulder , videotaping the encounter and sending the tape to Schulder ’ s wife – Kushner ’ s sister .
Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles , and Trump ’ s daughter Ivanka married Jared Kushner in 2009 .
In an unusual twist , the man who prosecuted Charles Kushner was Chris Christie , now the former governor of New Jersey , who also has served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quoted by CNN as saying Charles Kushner ’ s case was “ one of the most loathsome , disgusting crimes ” he prosecuted .
Alex van der Zwaan is the Dutch son-in-law of the Russian billionaire German Khan .
Van der Zwaan was sentenced to 30 days in prison and fined $ 20,000 for lying to investigators in Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia about his conversations with the former Trump aide Rick Gates .
The Dutch attorney became the first formal conviction obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zwaan had previously worked with Paul Manafort , Trump ’ s disgraced former campaign manager who was also imprisoned on charges resulting from the Russia investigation .
A former lawyer at the prominent firm Skadden Arps , Van der Zwaan worked on a 2012 report commissioned by Manafort to defend the former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych from international criticism .
George Papadopoulos was a former adviser to the Trump campaign who became the second person to be sentenced to prison as the result of the Mueller investigation .
Papadopoulos was sentenced to 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lying to federal agents about contacts with a Kremlin-linked professor who informed him in April 2016 that the Russians had “ dirt ” on Hillary Clinton and “ thousands of emails ” .
Papadopoulos had told investigators that the conversation happened before he became a Trump campaign adviser , when in fact he had worked for the campaign for more than a month at the time .
Papadopoulos served 12 days of his 14-day sentence , then was placed on a 12-month supervised release .
Duncan Hunter is a former Republican congressman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an end by corruption charges in 2018 .
Hunter was indicted in August of that year after being accused of using $ 200,000 in campaign money to fund family travel , school tuition , jewelry , groceries and gas .
Prosecutors said he also spent the funds on extramarital affairs and flights for his family ’ s pet rabbit .
He tried to conceal the illegal spendings by listing them in federal records as donations for military veterans and other campaign-related expenses , according to the indictment .
Hunter was sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stealing campaign funds .
He was originally due to begin serving his sentence in May but had it pushed back to January 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Collins is a former congressman from New York who was indicted in 2018 on charges he passed inside information about a biotechnology company to family members so they could profit from illicit trades .
The charges ended his bid for re-election , and he was sentenced to two years and two months in federal prison .
Collins is a longtime Trump ally and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorse Trump for president .
The former Republican representative Steve Stockman of Texas was convicted in 2018 of misuse of charitable funds .
The White House said Stockman had served more than two years of his 10-year sentence and would remain subject to a period of supervised release and an order requiring that he pay more than $ 1m in restitution .
The four former government contractors were convicted in a 2007 massacre in Baghdad that left more a dozen Iraqi civilians dead and caused an international uproar over the use of private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicholas Slatten , was convicted of first-degree murder over the killing Ahmed Haithem Ahmed Al Rubia ’ y , 19 , an aspiring doctor who was one of more than a dozen civilians killed by Blackwater guards in Baghdad ’ s Nisour square in 2007 .
While escorting a diplomatic convoy , the Blackwater guards opened fire in the bustling square with sniper rifles , machine guns and grenade launchers – allegedly without provocation – leaving at least 14 civilians dead and at least 18 wounded .
The Iraqi government says the toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four Blackwater guards who were found guilty in 2014 .
He was originally sentenced to life in prison while the three others were given 30-year prison sentences .
Alfonso Costa is a former dentist from Pittsburgh who pleaded guilty in 2007 to healthcare fraud .
Costa participated in a “ healthcare fraud scheme of several years ’ duration beginning in approximately 1995 , involving false insurance billing for dental care ” , according to court documents .
Costa , who was 46 at the time , faced a maximum prison sentence of 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year of house arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet , three years ’ probation , 100 hours of community service and a $ 250,000 fine .
Now a self-employed real estate speculator with properties in Pennsylvania , New York City , Florida and elsewhere , Costa is also a business associate and close friend of Ben Carson , Trump ’ s housing secretary .
Carson is said to be a frequent visitor to Costa ’ s villa on Italy ’ s Amalfi coast .
• None Margaret Hunter , the wife of Duncan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to conspiracy to misuse campaign funds for personal expenses .
Trump granted her a full pardon .
• None Crystal Munoz , who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana .
Trump commuted her remaining sentence .
• None Tynice Nichole Hall , who served nearly 15 years in prison on drug-related charges .
Trump commuted her remaining sentence .
• None Judith Negron , who was convicted in a major Medicare fraud case .
Trump commuted her remaining sentence .
• None Alfred Lee Crum , 89 , who had pleaded guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distill moonshine in Oklahoma .
Trump granted a full pardon .
• None Philip Esformes , who was imprisoned on charges in a Medicare fraud scheme , described by the justice department as the largest ever charged .
Trump commuted his remaining prison sentence .
• None Otis Gordon , who had been convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute .
Trump granted him a full pardon .
• None Philip Lyman , who was a county commissioner in Utah when he was prosecuted for protesting the Bureau of Land Management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ATV riders .
Trump granted a full pardon .
• None Weldon Angelos , who had been sentenced in 2002 to 55 years ’ imprisonment for selling marijuana and carrying a handgun and was released by judicial order after serving 13 years in prison .
Trump granted a full pardon .
• None Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean , former border patrol agents who were convicted of assault after Ramos in 2005 shot a suspect trafficking marijuana who subsequently fled across the border .
Their prison sentences were commuted by the former president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full pardon .
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed reporting

Donald Trump has granted pardons and commuted the sentences of more than 40 people since Tuesday, many of them former aides and longtime loyalists.
They include several former campaign figures, multiple former Republican lawmakers, a Dutch lawyer charged as part of the Russia investigation, the father of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and four former government contractors convicted of killing Iraqi civilians.
Here is what you need to know about the key figures.
Paul Manafort
Paul Manafort at a New York court. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP
Paul Manafort is the disgraced former chairman of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, who was sentenced in 2019 to seven and a half years in prison for charges that emerged from the Russia investigation.
Manafort was once a high-flying lobbyist, serving as a consultant to the former Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi and the former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos. He worked for Trump’s election campaign for five months in 2016.
Manafort, 70, was among the first in Trump’s inner circle to face charges brought by the special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump has now pardoned multiple people charged as part of the investigation, including the former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and campaign adviser George Papadopoulos.
Manafort had been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine. However, he was released from prison in May of this year over coronavirus concerns, and was due to serve out the rest of his sentence under home confinement. Trump’s pardon will spare Manafort from serving the bulk of term.
Roger Stone
Roger Stone in December. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Roger Stone is a longtime friend of Donald Trump and notorious Republican fixer who has worked with political figures including Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.
Stone, 67, was convicted in November 2019 of lying under oath and obstructing a congressional investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.
In the process of the Trump-Russia investigation, which led to a string of indictments, Mueller and his team also revealed evidence of communications between Stone and WikiLeaks related to the release of hacked Democratic party emails.
Stone was sentenced to more than three years in jail, but Trump commuted his sentence back in July before he entered prison.
In a rare public statement following that earlier commutation, Mueller wrote: “The Russia investigation was of paramount importance. Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes. He remains a convicted felon, and rightly so.”
Charlie Kushner
Charles Kushner (center) pictured in 2004 arriving at Newark federal court. Photograph: New York Daily News Archive/NY Daily News via Getty Images
Charlie Kushner is the father of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. He was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in 2004 to 18 counts of tax evasion and making unlawful campaign donations.
Kushner was also charged with witness tampering – after he retaliated against his brother-in-law William Schulder, who was cooperating with federal investigators. Kushner was accused of hiring a sex worker to seduce Schulder, videotaping the encounter and sending the tape to Schulder’s wife – Kushner’s sister.
Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles, and Trump’s daughter Ivanka married Jared Kushner in 2009.
In an unusual twist, the man who prosecuted Charles Kushner was Chris Christie, now the former governor of New Jersey, who also has served as an adviser to Trump.
Christie was quoted by CNN as saying Charles Kushner’s case was “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he prosecuted.
Alex van der Zwaan
Alex van der Zwaan. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters
Alex van der Zwaan is the Dutch son-in-law of the Russian billionaire German Khan. Van der Zwaan was sentenced to 30 days in prison and fined $20,000 for lying to investigators in Robert Mueller’s investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia about his conversations with the former Trump aide Rick Gates.
The Dutch attorney became the first formal conviction obtained by Mueller in his investigation.
Van der Zwaan had previously worked with Paul Manafort, Trump’s disgraced former campaign manager who was also imprisoned on charges resulting from the Russia investigation.
A former lawyer at the prominent firm Skadden Arps, Van der Zwaan worked on a 2012 report commissioned by Manafort to defend the former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych from international criticism.
George Papadopoulos
George Papadopoulos. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters
George Papadopoulos was a former adviser to the Trump campaign who became the second person to be sentenced to prison as the result of the Mueller investigation.
Papadopoulos was sentenced to 14 days in prison after he pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents about contacts with a Kremlin-linked professor who informed him in April 2016 that the Russians had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton and “thousands of emails”. Papadopoulos had told investigators that the conversation happened before he became a Trump campaign adviser, when in fact he had worked for the campaign for more than a month at the time.
Papadopoulos served 12 days of his 14-day sentence, then was placed on a 12-month supervised release.
Duncan Hunter
Duncan Hunter. Photograph: Gregory Bull/AP
Duncan Hunter is a former Republican congressman from California whose political career was brought to an end by corruption charges in 2018.
Hunter was indicted in August of that year after being accused of using $200,000 in campaign money to fund family travel, school tuition, jewelry, groceries and gas. Prosecutors said he also spent the funds on extramarital affairs and flights for his family’s pet rabbit. He tried to conceal the illegal spendings by listing them in federal records as donations for military veterans and other campaign-related expenses, according to the indictment.
Hunter was sentenced to 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing campaign funds. He was originally due to begin serving his sentence in May but had it pushed back to January 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Chris Collins
Former US congressman Chris Collins. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA
Collins is a former congressman from New York who was indicted in 2018 on charges he passed inside information about a biotechnology company to family members so they could profit from illicit trades. The charges ended his bid for re-election, and he was sentenced to two years and two months in federal prison.
Collins is a longtime Trump ally and was the first member of Congress to endorse Trump for president.
Steve Stockman
The former Republican representative Steve Stockman of Texas was convicted in 2018 of misuse of charitable funds.
The White House said Stockman had served more than two years of his 10-year sentence and would remain subject to a period of supervised release and an order requiring that he pay more than $1m in restitution.
Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard
Dustin Heard, Evan Liberty, Nicholas Slatten and Paul Slough. Photograph: AP
The four former government contractors were convicted in a 2007 massacre in Baghdad that left more a dozen Iraqi civilians dead and caused an international uproar over the use of private security guards in a war zone.
Nicholas Slatten, was convicted of first-degree murder over the killing Ahmed Haithem Ahmed Al Rubia’y, 19, an aspiring doctor who was one of more than a dozen civilians killed by Blackwater guards in Baghdad’s Nisour square in 2007.
While escorting a diplomatic convoy, the Blackwater guards opened fire in the bustling square with sniper rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers – allegedly without provocation – leaving at least 14 civilians dead and at least 18 wounded. The Iraqi government says the toll was higher.
Slatten was one of four Blackwater guards who were found guilty in 2014. He was originally sentenced to life in prison while the three others were given 30-year prison sentences.
Alfonso Costa
Alfonso Costa is a former dentist from Pittsburgh who pleaded guilty in 2007 to healthcare fraud.
Costa participated in a “healthcare fraud scheme of several years’ duration beginning in approximately 1995, involving false insurance billing for dental care”, according to court documents.
Costa, who was 46 at the time, faced a maximum prison sentence of 18 months. He was sentenced to one year of house arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet, three years’ probation, 100 hours of community service and a $250,000 fine.
Now a self-employed real estate speculator with properties in Pennsylvania, New York City, Florida and elsewhere, Costa is also a business associate and close friend of Ben Carson, Trump’s housing secretary. Carson is said to be a frequent visitor to Costa’s villa on Italy’s Amalfi coast.
Other notable pardons and commutations include:
Margaret Hunter , the wife of Duncan Hunter, who in 2019 plead guilty to conspiracy to misuse campaign funds for personal expenses. Trump granted her a full pardon.
Crystal Munoz , who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Trump commuted her remaining sentence.
Tynice Nichole Hall , who served nearly 15 years in prison on drug-related charges. Trump commuted her remaining sentence.
Judith Negron , who was convicted in a major Medicare fraud case. Trump commuted her remaining sentence.
Alfred Lee Crum , 89, who had pleaded guilty in 1952 to helping a relative illegally distill moonshine in Oklahoma. Trump granted a full pardon.
Philip Esformes , who was imprisoned on charges in a Medicare fraud scheme, described by the justice department as the largest ever charged. Trump commuted his remaining prison sentence.
Otis Gordon , who had been convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Trump granted him a full pardon.
Philip Lyman , who was a county commissioner in Utah when he was prosecuted for protesting the Bureau of Land Management’s closure of a canyon to ATV riders. Trump granted a full pardon.
Weldon Angelos , who had been sentenced in 2002 to 55 years’ imprisonment for selling marijuana and carrying a handgun and was released by judicial order after serving 13 years in prison. Trump granted a full pardon.
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, former border patrol agents who were convicted of assault after Ramos in 2005 shot a suspect trafficking marijuana who subsequently fled across the border. Their prison sentences were commuted by the former president George W Bush. Trump granted a full pardon.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed reporting


theguardian--2020-12-23--Trump vetoes huge US defense spending bill but Congress set to override

Donald Trump vetoed a $ 740bn bill setting policy for the Department of Defense on Wednesday , despite its strong support in Congress , raising the possibility that the measure will fail to become law for the first time in 60 years .
Although Trump ’ s previous eight vetoes were all upheld thanks to support from Republicans in Congress , advisers said this one looked likely to be overridden , just weeks before Trump leaves office on 20 January .
Trump said he vetoed the annual National Defense Authorization Act , or NDAA , because it “ fails to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military ’ s history , and contradicts efforts by my administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions ” .
A key measure in the NDAA to which Trump objects is the move to rename US military bases currently named for leaders of the Confederacy , which seceded from the union over slavery , leading to the civil war of 1861 to 1865 .
Pressure to rename the bases grew this year amid nationwide protests over the killing by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African American man on whose neck an officer knelt for almost nine minutes .
Trump also threatened a veto if the bill did not repeal part of a 1996 telecoms law which prevents online companies from being sued in relation to third-party content .
If Section 230 is not “ completely terminated ” , Trump tweeted earlier this month , “ I will be forced to unequivocally VETO the Bill when sent to the very beautiful Resolute desk.
” In a message to the House of Representatives , on Wednesday , Trump also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ to China and Russia ” .
Both the Republican Senate and Democratic House passed the 2021 NDAA with margins larger than the two-thirds majorities needed to override a veto .
That means that Trump would have to persuade dozens of Republicans to throw out nearly a year ’ s work on the 4,500-page bill and start over .
Top advisers urged Trump not to carry out his veto threat , citing the slim chance of stopping the bill .
Many of Trump ’ s staunchest supporters , including Senate armed services committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote to override .
“ It ’ s simple , what this bill does , ” Inhofe said when the measure passed the Senate .
“ It makes our country more secure , and it supports our troops who defend it.
” Advisers said Trump had little to gain from a veto and it could hurt his party ’ s ability to hang on to two US Senate seats in Georgia in 5 January runoff votes .
The Senate backed the bill 84-13 , with the no votes coming from some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Democratic-led House backed the NDAA by 335-78 , with some “ no ” votes also coming from liberal Democrats less likely to back a Trump veto .
The NDAA determines everything from how many ships are bought to soldiers ’ pay to how to address geopolitical threats .
The measure vetoed by Trump was a compromise , combining separate measures already passed in the House and Senate .
Lawmakers take pride in the bill having become law every year since 1961 , saying it reflects their support for the military .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would delay a 3 % pay raise for active-duty troops .

Donald Trump vetoed a $740bn bill setting policy for the Department of Defense on Wednesday, despite its strong support in Congress, raising the possibility that the measure will fail to become law for the first time in 60 years.
Although Trump’s previous eight vetoes were all upheld thanks to support from Republicans in Congress, advisers said this one looked likely to be overridden, just weeks before Trump leaves office on 20 January.
Trump said he vetoed the annual National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, because it “fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military’s history, and contradicts efforts by my administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions”.
A key measure in the NDAA to which Trump objects is the move to rename US military bases currently named for leaders of the Confederacy, which seceded from the union over slavery, leading to the civil war of 1861 to 1865.
Pressure to rename the bases grew this year amid nationwide protests over the killing by Minneapolis police of George Floyd, an African American man on whose neck an officer knelt for almost nine minutes.
Trump also threatened a veto if the bill did not repeal part of a 1996 telecoms law which prevents online companies from being sued in relation to third-party content.
If Section 230 is not “completely terminated”, Trump tweeted earlier this month, “I will be forced to unequivocally VETO the Bill when sent to the very beautiful Resolute desk.”
In a message to the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, Trump also called the bill “a ‘gift’ to China and Russia”.
Both the Republican Senate and Democratic House passed the 2021 NDAA with margins larger than the two-thirds majorities needed to override a veto. That means that Trump would have to persuade dozens of Republicans to throw out nearly a year’s work on the 4,500-page bill and start over.
Top advisers urged Trump not to carry out his veto threat, citing the slim chance of stopping the bill. Many of Trump’s staunchest supporters, including Senate armed services committee chairman Jim Inhofe, said they would vote to override.
“It’s simple, what this bill does,” Inhofe said when the measure passed the Senate. “It makes our country more secure, and it supports our troops who defend it.”
Advisers said Trump had little to gain from a veto and it could hurt his party’s ability to hang on to two US Senate seats in Georgia in 5 January runoff votes.
The Senate backed the bill 84-13, with the no votes coming from some of the most conservative Republicans and most liberal Democrats. The Democratic-led House backed the NDAA by 335-78, with some “no” votes also coming from liberal Democrats less likely to back a Trump veto.
The NDAA determines everything from how many ships are bought to soldiers’ pay to how to address geopolitical threats. The measure vetoed by Trump was a compromise, combining separate measures already passed in the House and Senate.
Lawmakers take pride in the bill having become law every year since 1961, saying it reflects their support for the military. Trump’s veto, if upheld, would delay a 3% pay raise for active-duty troops.


theguardian--2020-12-23--US government agrees to buy 100m extra doses of Pfizer vaccine

Pfizer and BioNTech will provide the US with an additional 100m doses of coronavirus vaccine by mid-summer under a new $ 2bn deal with the American government .
This addition means that Pfizer and BioNTech will deliver a total of 200m doses to the US and enable some 100 million people to be inoculated against the deadly virus .
The pharmaceutical companies announced their plan on Wednesday morning in a press release .
They plan to deliver all these doses by mid-summer , with a minimum of 70m delivered by 30 June and the remainder “ no later than ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US will also have the option to obtain another 400m doses .
There have been 18,238,233 Covid-19 cases in the US , with 322,849 recorded deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University data .
The US will see its deadliest year in history largely due to Covid-19 .
Experts believe that overall US life expectancy could drop by as much as three years .
“ Securing more doses from Pfizer and BioNTech for delivery in the second quarter of 2021 further expands our supply of doses across the Operation Warp Speed portfolio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of health and human services .
“ This new federal purchase can give Americans even more confidence that we will have enough supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by June 2021.
” Pfizer and BioNTech ’ s vaccine was the first to receive emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration .
The first shipments were sent to states last week .
The FDA has also granted emergency use authorization to Moderna ’ s Covid-19 vaccine .
While both vaccines require two doses , Moderna does not have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these additional doses came several weeks after reports revealed that the Trump Administration had passed on the opportunity to purchase millions of additional doses of Pfizer ’ s vaccine .
The administration ’ s contract with Pfizer was for 100m doses , and provided an opportunity to buy up to 500m additional doses .
Trump ’ s administration decided not to secure an additional 100m doses of Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s vaccine for the second quarter of 2021 , however .
While more vaccines are expected to come on line , US officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New data indicated that approximately 50 % of Americans would take the vaccine , but 25 % of adults said they weren ’ t certain and another 25 % said they would not .
Experts have maintained that “ herd immunity ” – when the overall population has mostly become immune because a significant proportion is – will be achieved when 60 % to 70 % acquire some level of immunity .
The news comes as the devastating current surge has wreaked havoc across the US and especially in California , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s healthcare system may fracture in weeks if people ignore holiday social distancing .
Top executives from the state ’ s largest hospital systems Kaiser Permanente , Dignity Health and Sutter Health , which together cover 15 million Californians , said on Tuesday that increasingly exhausted staff , many pressed into service outside their normal duties , are now attending to Covid-19 patients in hallways and conference rooms .
The chief executive of the Martin Luther King community hospital in Los Angeles , Dr Elaine Batchlor , separately said patients there have spilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tents outside the emergency department .
“ We don ’ t have space for anybody .
We ’ ve been holding patients for days because we can ’ t get them transferred , can ’ t get beds for them , ” said Dr Alexis Lenz , an emergency room physician at El Centro regional medical center in Imperial county , in the south-east corner of the state .
California is closing in on 2m confirmed cases of Covid-19 .
The state on Tuesday reported nearly 32,700 newly confirmed cases .
Another 653 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the biggest one-day hospitalization jumps for a total approaching 18,000 .
State data models have predicted the hospitalizations could top 100,000 in a month if current rates continue .
More worrying than lack of beds is a lack of personnel .
The pool of available travel nurses is drying up as demand for them jumped 44 % over the last month , with California , Texas , Florida , New York and Minnesota requesting the most extra staff , according to San Diego-based health care staffing firm Aya Healthcare .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have surges all across the country , so nobody has many nurses to spare , ” said Dr Janet Coffman , a professor of public policy at the University of California in San Francisco .
California is contacting places like Australia and Taiwan to fill the need for 3,000 temporary medical workers , particularly nurses trained in critical care .

Pfizer and BioNTech will provide the US with an additional 100m doses of coronavirus vaccine by mid-summer under a new $2bn deal with the American government.
This addition means that Pfizer and BioNTech will deliver a total of 200m doses to the US and enable some 100 million people to be inoculated against the deadly virus.
The pharmaceutical companies announced their plan on Wednesday morning in a press release. They plan to deliver all these doses by mid-summer, with a minimum of 70m delivered by 30 June and the remainder “no later than” 31 July. Under this agreement, the US will also have the option to obtain another 400m doses.
There have been 18,238,233 Covid-19 cases in the US, with 322,849 recorded deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The US will see its deadliest year in history largely due to Covid-19. Experts believe that overall US life expectancy could drop by as much as three years.
“Securing more doses from Pfizer and BioNTech for delivery in the second quarter of 2021 further expands our supply of doses across the Operation Warp Speed portfolio,” said Alex Azar, the secretary of health and human services. “This new federal purchase can give Americans even more confidence that we will have enough supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by June 2021.”
Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine was the first to receive emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. The first shipments were sent to states last week.
The FDA has also granted emergency use authorization to Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine. While both vaccines require two doses, Moderna does not have to be stored in ultra-cold freezers.
News of these additional doses came several weeks after reports revealed that the Trump Administration had passed on the opportunity to purchase millions of additional doses of Pfizer’s vaccine. The administration’s contract with Pfizer was for 100m doses, and provided an opportunity to buy up to 500m additional doses.
Trump’s administration decided not to secure an additional 100m doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine for the second quarter of 2021, however.
While more vaccines are expected to come on line, US officials are also contending with apparent vaccine hesitancy. New data indicated that approximately 50% of Americans would take the vaccine, but 25%of adults said they weren’t certain and another 25% said they would not.
Experts have maintained that “herd immunity” – when the overall population has mostly become immune because a significant proportion is – will be achieved when 60% to 70% acquire some level of immunity.
The news comes as the devastating current surge has wreaked havoc across the US and especially in California, where officials are warning that the state’s healthcare system may fracture in weeks if people ignore holiday social distancing.
Top executives from the state’s largest hospital systems Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health and Sutter Health, which together cover 15 million Californians, said on Tuesday that increasingly exhausted staff, many pressed into service outside their normal duties, are now attending to Covid-19 patients in hallways and conference rooms.
The chief executive of the Martin Luther King community hospital in Los Angeles, Dr Elaine Batchlor, separately said patients there have spilled over into the gift shop and five tents outside the emergency department.
“We don’t have space for anybody. We’ve been holding patients for days because we can’t get them transferred, can’t get beds for them,” said Dr Alexis Lenz, an emergency room physician at El Centro regional medical center in Imperial county, in the south-east corner of the state.
California is closing in on 2m confirmed cases of Covid-19. The state on Tuesday reported nearly 32,700 newly confirmed cases. Another 653 patients were admitted to hospitals, one of the biggest one-day hospitalization jumps for a total approaching 18,000.
State data models have predicted the hospitalizations could top 100,000 in a month if current rates continue.
More worrying than lack of beds is a lack of personnel. The pool of available travel nurses is drying up as demand for them jumped 44% over the last month, with California, Texas, Florida, New York and Minnesota requesting the most extra staff, according to San Diego-based health care staffing firm Aya Healthcare.
“We’re now in a situation where we have surges all across the country, so nobody has many nurses to spare,” said Dr Janet Coffman, a professor of public policy at the University of California in San Francisco.
California is contacting places like Australia and Taiwan to fill the need for 3,000 temporary medical workers, particularly nurses trained in critical care.