talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--Trump Goes Whole Hog, Grants Pardons For House Allies And Russia Probe Figures

President Trump went on pardon tear Tuesday night as his presidency wanes , with the White House announcing grants of clemency for key figures in the 2016 Russia investigation and for congressional allies of Trump who were prosecuted during his administration .
Trump granted a full pardon to his former 2016 campaign adviser George Papadopoulos , who kickstarted the Russian investigation when he told a foreign diplomat about Russia ’ s efforts to dig up dirt on Hillary Clinton .
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation for making false statements to the FBI .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zwaan , who likewise pleaded guilty in Mueller ’ s probe , was granted a full pardon for lying to officials investigating his involvement in a 2012 a report that white-washed the prosecution of a Ukrainian official .
Former Reps. Chris Collins ( R-NY ) and Duncan Hunter ( R-CA ) were also granted full pardons .
The two Republicans were the first members of the House to endorse Trump in the 2016 campaign .
Collins pleaded guilty for crimes related to an insider trading scandal , and is currently serving a 26-month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled to go to prison next month , pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations .
Another former House Republican , Rep. Steve Stockman ( R-TX ) , was also pardoned by Trump .
Stockman had been convicted in 2018 for a slew of financial crimes , also involving the misuse of campaign funds .
Ten other individuals received pardons , the White House announced Tuesday , and five more received partial or full commutations of their sentences .
Among those pardoned were several Blackwater contractors who were prosecuted for fatally shooting unarmed Iraqi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraq War .
Read the full White House announcement of the pardons below : Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency Today , President Donald J. Trump granted Full Pardons to 15 individuals and commuted part or all of the sentences of an additional 5 individuals .
Alfonso Costa — President Trump granted a full pardon to Alfonso Costa , a dentist from Pittsburgh .
Dr. Costa ’ s request for clemency was supported by Dr. Ben Carson and Jerome Bettis , as well as by numerous business associates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dr. Costa pled guilty to one count of health care fraud related to false billing , took full responsibility for his conduct , served two years of probation , and paid nearly $ 300,000 in fines and restitution .
He has devoted much of his adult life to service to his community , including serving on the board of the Pittsburgh Opera , and doing significant service for children and the underprivileged .
Alfred Lee Crum — President Trump granted Alfred Lee Crum a full pardon .
Mr. Crum , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was 19 years old—to helping his wife ’ s uncle illegally distill moonshine in Oklahoma .
Mr. Crum served three years of probation , and paid a $ 250 fine .
Mr. Crum has maintained a clean record and a strong marriage for nearly 70 years , attended the same church for 60 years , raised four children , and regularly participated in charity fundraising events .
Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma Brian Kuester supported Mr. Crum ’ s request for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Trump commuted Crystal Munoz ’ s remaining term of supervised release , having previously commuted her sentence of incarceration after she had served 12 years in prison .
Alice Johnson , the Texas A & M Criminal Defense Clinic , and the Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation are among the many who supported clemency for Ms. Munoz .
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President ’ s further act of clemency today .
Ms. Munoz was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana based on her role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in prison , she mentored people working to better their lives , volunteered with a hospice program , and demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to rehabilitation .
Tynice Nichole Hall — President Trump has commuted the remainder of Tynice Nichole Hall ’ s term of supervised release .
He previously commuted her term of incarceration after she had served nearly 14 years of an 18-year sentence for allowing her apartment to be used to distribute drugs .
Alice Johnson , The Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation , and The Ladies of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported clemency for Ms. Hall .
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President ’ s further act of clemency today .
While in prison , Ms. Hall completed a number of job-training programs and apprenticeships , as well as coursework towards a college degree .
In addition , Ms. Hall taught prison educational programs to other inmates .
She has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has worked hard to rehabilitate herself .
Judith Negron — President Trump has today commuted the remainder of Judith Negron ’ s term of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term of incarceration after she had served 8 years of her sentence .
Alice Johnson , the Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation , Change.org , and the Warden at Aliceville Federal Correctional Institution have all supported clemency for Ms. Negron .
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President ’ s further act of clemency today .
Ms. Negron is a wife and mother who was sentenced to 35 years for her role as a minority-owner of a healthcare company engaged in a scheme to defraud the Federal Government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ her time to improving her life as well as the lives of her fellow inmates .
She completed hundreds of hours of educational programs , served as a tutor , and mentored other inmates .
Her acts of selflessness won her the praise of her prison warden .
Steve Stockman — Today , President Trump commuted the remaining prison sentence of Steve Stockman .
Former Representatives Bob McEwen and Bob Barr , along with James Dobson and L. Brent Bozell are among the many public figures who have called for Mr. Stockman ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compassionate grounds .
Mr. Stockman is 64 and has underlying pre-existing health conditions that place his health at greater risk during the COVID epidemic , and he has already contracted COVID while in prison .
Mr. Stockman , who was twice a member of the U.S. House of Representatives , representing Texas ’ s 9th congressional district from 1995 to 1997 and Texas ’ s 36th congressional district from 2013 to 2015 , was convicted in 2018 of misuse of charitable funds .
Mr. Stockman has served more than two years of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a period of supervised release and an order requiring that he pay more than $ 1,000,000 in restitution .
Duncan Hunter – At the request of many Members of Congress , President Trump granted a full pardon to Duncan Hunter .
His pardon is also supported by former Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission Bradley Smith .
Mr. Hunter has dedicated much of his adult life to public service .
Mr. Hunter represented California ’ s 50th Congressional District from 2013 to 2020 .
Prior to his time in Congress , Mr. Hunter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marine Corps .
Inspired to enlist after the September 11 , 2001 attacks , Mr. Hunter saw combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan .
In 2019 , Mr. Hunter pled guilty to one count of misusing campaign funds , an offense that could have been handled as a civil case via the Federal Election Commission , according to former FEC Commissioner Bradley Smith .
He was sentenced to 11 months ’ imprisonment set to begin in January 2021 .
Chris Collins – Today , President Trump granted a full pardon to Chris Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress .
Mr. Collins served in Congress for nearly seven years , representing the people of Western New York from 2013 to 2019 .
Mr. Collins spent his early career as a successful businessman and entrepreneur , before devoting his life to public service .
In 2007 , Mr. Collins was elected County Executive for Erie County , New York , a position he held for one four-year term , and in 2012 the people of New York ’ s 27th congressional district elected Mr. Collins to the U.S. House of Representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat three times .
During his tenure in Congress , Mr. Collins was known for his particular focus on the wellbeing of small businesses , agriculture , and sciences .
In 2019 , Mr. Collins pled guilty to the charges of conspiring to commit securities fraud and making false statements to the FBI .
Mr. Collins is currently serving his 26-month sentence .
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean – Today , President Trump granted full pardons to Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean .
These former Border Patrol Agents have been supported by one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louie Gohmert , Rep. Steve King , Rep. Ted Poe , Rep. Paul Gosar , Rep. Brian Babin , as well as the U.S. Border Control Foundation and the Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund .
Mr. Ramos participates in numerous community activities and charities , and Mr. Compean is active in his local church .
Both men served as Border Patrol Agents and put themselves in harm ’ s way to help secure our southern border with Mexico .
On one such occasion in 2005 , they stopped an illegal alien trafficking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal alien—who was thought to be armed—resisted arrest , Mr. Ramos shot the suspect , who fled back across the border .
For this , Mr. Ramos and Mr. Compean were charged and convicted of assault , using a firearm during a crime of violence , and deprivation of civil rights .
After they were sentenced to 11 and 12 years imprisonment , respectively , their case gained widespread attention .
One hundred members of Congress , as well as the organizations above , supported Mr. Ramos ’ and Mr. Compean ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee held hearings on the excessive sentence imposed on the former agents .
And President George W. Bush ultimately commuted these sentences with strong bipartisan support .
George Papadopoulos – Today , President Trump granted a full pardon to George Papadopoulos .
Mr. Papadopoulos was charged with a process-related crime , one count of making false statements , in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
Notably , Mueller stated in his report that he found no evidence of collusion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interfere in the election .
Nonetheless , the Special Counsel ’ s team still charged Mr. Papadopoulos with this process-related crime .
At the time that Mr. Papadopoulos allegedly made the false statements , he was not represented by counsel , and , after he was arrested , Mr. Papadopoulos gave additional information on his prior statements to the Special Counsel .
Today ’ s pardon helps correct the wrong that Mueller ’ s team inflicted on so many people .
Alex van der Zwaan – Today , President Trump granted a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His pardon is supported by former Rep. Trey Gowdy .
Mr. van der Zwaan was charged with a process-related crime , one count of making false statements , in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation .
None of his underlying conduct was alleged to have been unlawful , nor did prosecutors note any prior criminal history .
Mr. van der Zwaan is a Dutch national who voluntarily returned to the United States to correct his statements and surrendered his passport upon entry .
Nicholas Slatten , Paul Slough , Evan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Trump granted full pardons to Nicholas Slatten , Paul Slough , Evan Liberty , and Dustin Heard .
The pardon of these four veterans is broadly supported by the public , including Pete Hegseth , and elected officials such as Rep. Louie Gohmert , Rep. Paul Gosar , Rep. Ralph Norman , Rep. Bill Flores , Rep. Brian Babin , Rep. Michael Burgess , Rep. Daniel Webster , Rep. Steve King , and Rep. Ted Yoho .
Mr. Slatten , Mr. Slough , Mr. Liberty , and Mr. Heard have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Slatten was inspired to serve his country after the attacks of September 11 , 2001 , and served two tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division .
Mr. Slough served in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq with his National Guard unit .
Mr. Liberty served in the United States Marine Corps and protected United States Embassies abroad .
Mr. Heard served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom .
These veterans were working in Iraq in 2007 as security contractors responsible for securing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the convoy attempted to establish a blockade outside the “ Green Zone , ” the situation turned violent , which resulted in the unfortunate deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians .
Initial charges against the men were dismissed , but they were eventually tried and convicted on charges ranging from first degree murder to voluntary manslaughter .
On appeal , the D.C .
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that additional evidence should have been presented at Mr. Slatten ’ s trial .
Further , prosecutors recently disclosed—more than 10 years after the incident—that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relied heavily on to verify that there were no insurgent victims and to collect evidence , may have had ties to insurgent groups himself .
Weldon Angelos – Today , President Trump granted a full pardon to Weldon Angelos .
Mr. Angelos ’ pardon is supported by Senator Mike Lee , Senator Rand Paul , Alice Johnson , former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman , and others .
Mr. Angelos is an active criminal justice reform advocate and champion of giving second chances .
Because of mandatory minimums , Mr. Angelos was sentenced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling marijuana and carrying a handgun in the course of dealing .
The presiding judge called this excessive sentence “ unjust and cruel and even irrational.
” Mr. Angelos was eventually released by judicial order after serving 13 years in prison , and committed to changing the world for the better through criminal justice reform advocacy .
His story has been cited as an inspiration for sentencing reform , including the First Step Act , and he participated in a Prison Reform Summit at the White House in 2018 .
In his own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become whole again and put the bad choices in the past and continue changing the world for the better.
” Philip Lyman – Today , President Trump granted a full pardon to Philip Lyman .
Mr. Lyman ’ s pardon is supported by Senator Mike Lee , Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz , and other notable members of the Utah community .
Mr. Lyman is known to be a man of integrity and character who was serving as a county commissioner in Utah when he was subjected to selective prosecution for protesting the Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Recapture Canyon to ATV riders .
He had no other criminal history , but he was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in prison and nearly $ 96,000 in restitution .
Otis Gordon – Today , President Trump granted a full pardon to Otis Gordon .
Mr. Gordon ’ s pardon is supported by Senator Tim Scott .
Mr. Gordon has become a Pastor at Life Changer ’ s International Ministries since his conviction for possession with intent to distribute .
In 2015 , in the wake of the shooting at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr. Gordon led a prayer session at the United States Capitol .
Mr. Gordon mentors at-risk youths in his community .
Senator Tim Scott describes Mr. Gordon as “ a model citizen ” since his release and “ focused on helping young men avoid the same traps he once fell in.
” Philip Esformes – Today , President Trump commuted the term of imprisonment of Philip Esformes , while leaving the remaining aspects of his sentence , including supervised release and restitution , intact .
This commutation is supported by former Attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson .
In addition , former Attorneys General Edwin Meese , John Ashcroft , and Alberto Gonzalez , as well as other notable legal figures such as Ken Starr , have filed in support of his appeal challenging his conviction on the basis of prosecutorial misconduct related to violating attorney-client privilege .
While in prison , Mr. Esformes , who is 52 , has been devoted to prayer and repentance and is in declining health .

President Trump went on pardon tear Tuesday night as his presidency wanes, with the White House announcing grants of clemency for key figures in the 2016 Russia investigation and for congressional allies of Trump who were prosecuted during his administration.
Trump granted a full pardon to his former 2016 campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, who kickstarted the Russian investigation when he told a foreign diplomat about Russia’s efforts to dig up dirt on Hillary Clinton. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation for making false statements to the FBI. The former Skadden Arps lawyer Alexander van der Zwaan, who likewise pleaded guilty in Mueller’s probe, was granted a full pardon for lying to officials investigating his involvement in a 2012 a report that white-washed the prosecution of a Ukrainian official.
Former Reps. Chris Collins (R-NY) and Duncan Hunter (R-CA) were also granted full pardons. The two Republicans were the first members of the House to endorse Trump in the 2016 campaign. Collins pleaded guilty for crimes related to an insider trading scandal, and is currently serving a 26-month prison sentence. Hunter, who was scheduled to go to prison next month, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations.
Another former House Republican, Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), was also pardoned by Trump. Stockman had been convicted in 2018 for a slew of financial crimes, also involving the misuse of campaign funds.
Ten other individuals received pardons, the White House announced Tuesday, and five more received partial or full commutations of their sentences.
Among those pardoned were several Blackwater contractors who were prosecuted for fatally shooting unarmed Iraqi civilians in a 2007 episode of the Iraq War.
Read the full White House announcement of the pardons below:
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency
Today, President Donald J. Trump granted Full Pardons to 15 individuals and commuted part or all of the sentences of an additional 5 individuals.
Alfonso Costa — President Trump granted a full pardon to Alfonso Costa, a dentist from Pittsburgh. Dr. Costa’s request for clemency was supported by Dr. Ben Carson and Jerome Bettis, as well as by numerous business associates, patients, and community leaders from Pittsburgh. Dr. Costa pled guilty to one count of health care fraud related to false billing, took full responsibility for his conduct, served two years of probation, and paid nearly $300,000 in fines and restitution. He has devoted much of his adult life to service to his community, including serving on the board of the Pittsburgh Opera, and doing significant service for children and the underprivileged.
Alfred Lee Crum — President Trump granted Alfred Lee Crum a full pardon. Mr. Crum, who is now 89, pled guilty in 1952—when he was 19 years old—to helping his wife’s uncle illegally distill moonshine in Oklahoma. Mr. Crum served three years of probation, and paid a $250 fine. Mr. Crum has maintained a clean record and a strong marriage for nearly 70 years, attended the same church for 60 years, raised four children, and regularly participated in charity fundraising events. Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma Brian Kuester supported Mr. Crum’s request for a pardon.
Crystal Munoz — Today, President Trump commuted Crystal Munoz’s remaining term of supervised release, having previously commuted her sentence of incarceration after she had served 12 years in prison. Alice Johnson, the Texas A&M Criminal Defense Clinic, and the Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation are among the many who supported clemency for Ms. Munoz. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President’s further act of clemency today. Ms. Munoz was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana based on her role in a marijuana smuggling ring. During her time in prison, she mentored people working to better their lives, volunteered with a hospice program, and demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to rehabilitation.
Tynice Nichole Hall — President Trump has commuted the remainder of Tynice Nichole Hall’s term of supervised release. He previously commuted her term of incarceration after she had served nearly 14 years of an 18-year sentence for allowing her apartment to be used to distribute drugs. Alice Johnson, The Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation, and The Ladies of Hope Ministries are among the many who supported clemency for Ms. Hall. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President’s further act of clemency today. While in prison, Ms. Hall completed a number of job-training programs and apprenticeships, as well as coursework towards a college degree. In addition, Ms. Hall taught prison educational programs to other inmates. She has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has worked hard to rehabilitate herself.
Judith Negron — President Trump has today commuted the remainder of Judith Negron’s term of supervised release. He previously commuted her term of incarceration after she had served 8 years of her sentence. Alice Johnson, the Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation, Change.org, and the Warden at Aliceville Federal Correctional Institution have all supported clemency for Ms. Negron. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President’s further act of clemency today. Ms. Negron is a wife and mother who was sentenced to 35 years for her role as a minority-owner of a healthcare company engaged in a scheme to defraud the Federal Government. During her incarceration, Ms. Negron dedicated her time to improving her life as well as the lives of her fellow inmates. She completed hundreds of hours of educational programs, served as a tutor, and mentored other inmates. Her acts of selflessness won her the praise of her prison warden.
Steve Stockman — Today, President Trump commuted the remaining prison sentence of Steve Stockman. Former Representatives Bob McEwen and Bob Barr, along with James Dobson and L. Brent Bozell are among the many public figures who have called for Mr. Stockman’s release from incarceration on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Mr. Stockman is 64 and has underlying pre-existing health conditions that place his health at greater risk during the COVID epidemic, and he has already contracted COVID while in prison. Mr. Stockman, who was twice a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Texas’s 9th congressional district from 1995 to 1997 and Texas’s 36th congressional district from 2013 to 2015, was convicted in 2018 of misuse of charitable funds. Mr. Stockman has served more than two years of his ten-year sentence and will remain subject to a period of supervised release and an order requiring that he pay more than $1,000,000 in restitution.
Duncan Hunter – At the request of many Members of Congress, President Trump granted a full pardon to Duncan Hunter. His pardon is also supported by former Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission Bradley Smith.
Mr. Hunter has dedicated much of his adult life to public service. Mr. Hunter represented California’s 50th Congressional District from 2013 to 2020. Prior to his time in Congress, Mr. Hunter was an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Inspired to enlist after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mr. Hunter saw combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2019, Mr. Hunter pled guilty to one count of misusing campaign funds, an offense that could have been handled as a civil case via the Federal Election Commission, according to former FEC Commissioner Bradley Smith. He was sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment set to begin in January 2021.
Chris Collins – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Chris Collins, at the request of many Members of Congress.
Mr. Collins served in Congress for nearly seven years, representing the people of Western New York from 2013 to 2019. Mr. Collins spent his early career as a successful businessman and entrepreneur, before devoting his life to public service. In 2007, Mr. Collins was elected County Executive for Erie County, New York, a position he held for one four-year term, and in 2012 the people of New York’s 27th congressional district elected Mr. Collins to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was subsequently re-elected to this seat three times. During his tenure in Congress, Mr. Collins was known for his particular focus on the wellbeing of small businesses, agriculture, and sciences.
In 2019, Mr. Collins pled guilty to the charges of conspiring to commit securities fraud and making false statements to the FBI. Mr. Collins is currently serving his 26-month sentence.
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean – Today, President Trump granted full pardons to Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. These former Border Patrol Agents have been supported by one hundred members of Congress, including Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Steve King, Rep. Ted Poe, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Brian Babin, as well as the U.S. Border Control Foundation and the Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Mr. Ramos participates in numerous community activities and charities, and Mr. Compean is active in his local church.
Both men served as Border Patrol Agents and put themselves in harm’s way to help secure our southern border with Mexico. On one such occasion in 2005, they stopped an illegal alien trafficking 700 pounds of marijuana. When the illegal alien—who was thought to be armed—resisted arrest, Mr. Ramos shot the suspect, who fled back across the border. For this, Mr. Ramos and Mr. Compean were charged and convicted of assault, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and deprivation of civil rights. After they were sentenced to 11 and 12 years imprisonment, respectively, their case gained widespread attention.
One hundred members of Congress, as well as the organizations above, supported Mr. Ramos’ and Mr. Compean’s release from prison. The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the excessive sentence imposed on the former agents. And President George W. Bush ultimately commuted these sentences with strong bipartisan support.
George Papadopoulos – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to George Papadopoulos. Mr. Papadopoulos was charged with a process-related crime, one count of making false statements, in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Notably, Mueller stated in his report that he found no evidence of collusion in connection with Russia’s attempts to interfere in the election. Nonetheless, the Special Counsel’s team still charged Mr. Papadopoulos with this process-related crime.
At the time that Mr. Papadopoulos allegedly made the false statements, he was not represented by counsel, and, after he was arrested, Mr. Papadopoulos gave additional information on his prior statements to the Special Counsel. Today’s pardon helps correct the wrong that Mueller’s team inflicted on so many people.
Alex van der Zwaan – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Alex van der Zwaan. His pardon is supported by former Rep. Trey Gowdy.
Mr. van der Zwaan was charged with a process-related crime, one count of making false statements, in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. None of his underlying conduct was alleged to have been unlawful, nor did prosecutors note any prior criminal history. Mr. van der Zwaan is a Dutch national who voluntarily returned to the United States to correct his statements and surrendered his passport upon entry.
Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard – Today, President Trump granted full pardons to Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard. The pardon of these four veterans is broadly supported by the public, including Pete Hegseth, and elected officials such as Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Ralph Norman, Rep. Bill Flores, Rep. Brian Babin, Rep. Michael Burgess, Rep. Daniel Webster, Rep. Steve King, and Rep. Ted Yoho.
Mr. Slatten, Mr. Slough, Mr. Liberty, and Mr. Heard have a long history of service to the Nation. Mr. Slatten was inspired to serve his country after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and served two tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division. Mr. Slough served in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq with his National Guard unit. Mr. Liberty served in the United States Marine Corps and protected United States Embassies abroad. Mr. Heard served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
These veterans were working in Iraq in 2007 as security contractors responsible for securing the safety of United States personnel. When the convoy attempted to establish a blockade outside the “Green Zone,” the situation turned violent, which resulted in the unfortunate deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians. Initial charges against the men were dismissed, but they were eventually tried and convicted on charges ranging from first degree murder to voluntary manslaughter. On appeal, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that additional evidence should have been presented at Mr. Slatten’s trial. Further, prosecutors recently disclosed—more than 10 years after the incident—that the lead Iraqi investigator, who prosecutors relied heavily on to verify that there were no insurgent victims and to collect evidence, may have had ties to insurgent groups himself.
Weldon Angelos – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Weldon Angelos. Mr. Angelos’ pardon is supported by Senator Mike Lee, Senator Rand Paul, Alice Johnson, former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, and others.
Mr. Angelos is an active criminal justice reform advocate and champion of giving second chances. Because of mandatory minimums, Mr. Angelos was sentenced in 2002 to 55 years’ imprisonment for selling marijuana and carrying a handgun in the course of dealing. The presiding judge called this excessive sentence “unjust and cruel and even irrational.”
Mr. Angelos was eventually released by judicial order after serving 13 years in prison, and committed to changing the world for the better through criminal justice reform advocacy. His story has been cited as an inspiration for sentencing reform, including the First Step Act, and he participated in a Prison Reform Summit at the White House in 2018. In his own words, Mr. Angelos wants “to become whole again and put the bad choices in the past and continue changing the world for the better.”
Philip Lyman – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Philip Lyman. Mr. Lyman’s pardon is supported by Senator Mike Lee, Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, and other notable members of the Utah community.
Mr. Lyman is known to be a man of integrity and character who was serving as a county commissioner in Utah when he was subjected to selective prosecution for protesting the Bureau of Land Management’s closure of the Recapture Canyon to ATV riders. He had no other criminal history, but he was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in prison and nearly $96,000 in restitution.
Otis Gordon – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Otis Gordon. Mr. Gordon’s pardon is supported by Senator Tim Scott.
Mr. Gordon has become a Pastor at Life Changer’s International Ministries since his conviction for possession with intent to distribute. In 2015, in the wake of the shooting at a Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina, Mr. Gordon led a prayer session at the United States Capitol. Mr. Gordon mentors at-risk youths in his community. Senator Tim Scott describes Mr. Gordon as “a model citizen” since his release and “focused on helping young men avoid the same traps he once fell in.”
Philip Esformes – Today, President Trump commuted the term of imprisonment of Philip Esformes, while leaving the remaining aspects of his sentence, including supervised release and restitution, intact. This commutation is supported by former Attorneys General Edwin Meese and Michael Mukasey, as well as former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson. In addition, former Attorneys General Edwin Meese, John Ashcroft, and Alberto Gonzalez, as well as other notable legal figures such as Ken Starr, have filed in support of his appeal challenging his conviction on the basis of prosecutorial misconduct related to violating attorney-client privilege.
While in prison, Mr. Esformes, who is 52, has been devoted to prayer and repentance and is in declining health.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--DOJ Sues Walmart Over Role In Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Justice Department sued Walmart on Tuesday , accusing it of fueling the nation ’ s opioid crisis by pressuring its pharmacies to fill even potentially suspicious prescriptions for the powerful painkillers .
The civil complaint filed points to the role Walmart ’ s pharmacies may have played in the crisis by filling opioid prescriptions and Walmart ’ s own responsibility for the allegedly illegal distribution of controlled substances to the pharmacies at the height of the opioid crisis .
Walmart operates more than 5,000 pharmacies in its stores around the country .
The Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances that its pharmacists “ knew were invalid , ” said Jeffrey Clark , the acting assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department ’ s civil division .
Federal law required Walmart to spot suspicious orders for controlled substances and report those to the Drug Enforcement Administration , but prosecutors charge the company didn ’ t do that .
“ Walmart knew that its distribution centers were using an inadequate system for detecting and reporting suspicious orders , ” said Jason Dunn , the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Walmart reported virtually no suspicious orders at all .
In other words , Walmart ’ s pharmacies ordered opioids in a way that went essentially unmonitored and unregulated.
” The 160-page suit alleges that Walmart made it difficult for its pharmacists to follow the rules , putting “ enormous pressure ” on them to fill a high volume of prescriptions as fast as possible , while at the same time denying them the authority to categorically refuse to fill prescriptions issued by prescribers the pharmacists knew were continually issuing invalid invalid prescriptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Walmart ’ s compliance department , which oversaw the dispensing nationwide of controlled substance prescriptions .
In particular , even after Walmart pharmacists informed the compliance unit about “ pill-mill ” prescribers whose practices raised egregious red flags , Walmart allegedly continued to fill invalid prescriptions issued by those prescribers , according to the suit .
The suit said that only later did Walmart allow pharmacists to do blanket refusals for these suspect practices .
Walmart fought back in an emailed statement to The Associated Press , saying that the Justice Department ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethics violations.
” It said the “ lawsuit invents a legal theory that unlawfully forces pharmacists to come between patients and their doctors , and is riddled with factual inaccuracies and cherry-picked documents taken out of context.
” Walmart noted it always empowered its pharmacists to refuse to fill problematic opioids prescriptions , and said they refused to fill hundreds of thousands of such prescriptions .
Walmart also noted it sent the Drug Enforcement Administration tens of thousands of investigative leads , and it blocked thousands of questionable doctors from having their opioid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a corporate blog post published late Tuesday , Walmart argued that many health regulators , medical groups , doctors and patients criticize the company for going too far in refusing to fill opioid prescriptions .
Some even say Walmart is improperly interfering in the doctor-patient relationship , the company said .
AP reported the news of the lawsuit ahead of the Justice Department ’ s public announcement , citing a person who could not discuss the matter publicly before the announced move .
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the Justice Department , Attorney General William Barr and the Drug Enforcement Administration nearly two months ago .
In its lawsuit , Walmart said the Justice Department ’ s investigation — launched in 2016 — had identified hundreds of doctors who wrote problematic prescriptions that Walmart ’ s pharmacists should not have filled .
But the lawsuit charged that nearly 70 % of the doctors still have active registrations with the DEA .
“ Blaming pharmacists for not second-guessing the very doctors the Drug Enforcement Administration ( DEA ) approved to prescribe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame from DEA ’ s well-documented failures in keeping bad doctors from prescribing opioids in the first place , ” the company said in its statement .
Walmart ’ s lawsuit alleged the government was blaming it for the lack of regulatory and enforcement policies to stem the crisis .
The company is asking a federal judge to declare that the government ’ s suit has no basis to seek civil damages .
That suit remains ongoing .
The initial investigation was the subject of a ProPublica story published in March .
ProPublica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney for the Eastern District of Texas office , spent years pursuing a criminal case against Walmart for its opioid prescription practices , only to have it stymied after the retail giant ’ s lawyers appealed to senior officials in the Justice Department .
Two months later , Brown resigned .
He didn ’ t give a reason for his departure except to say he would be “ pursuing opportunities in the private and public sectors.
” Brown went into private practice in the Dallas area .

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department sued Walmart on Tuesday, accusing it of fueling the nation’s opioid crisis by pressuring its pharmacies to fill even potentially suspicious prescriptions for the powerful painkillers.
The civil complaint filed points to the role Walmart’s pharmacies may have played in the crisis by filling opioid prescriptions and Walmart’s own responsibility for the allegedly illegal distribution of controlled substances to the pharmacies at the height of the opioid crisis. Walmart operates more than 5,000 pharmacies in its stores around the country.
The Justice Department alleges Walmart violated federal law by selling thousands of prescriptions for controlled substances that its pharmacists “knew were invalid,” said Jeffrey Clark, the acting assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s civil division.
Federal law required Walmart to spot suspicious orders for controlled substances and report those to the Drug Enforcement Administration, but prosecutors charge the company didn’t do that.
“Walmart knew that its distribution centers were using an inadequate system for detecting and reporting suspicious orders,” said Jason Dunn, the U.S. attorney in Colorado. “For years, Walmart reported virtually no suspicious orders at all. In other words, Walmart’s pharmacies ordered opioids in a way that went essentially unmonitored and unregulated.”
The 160-page suit alleges that Walmart made it difficult for its pharmacists to follow the rules, putting “enormous pressure” on them to fill a high volume of prescriptions as fast as possible, while at the same time denying them the authority to categorically refuse to fill prescriptions issued by prescribers the pharmacists knew were continually issuing invalid invalid prescriptions.
The suit highlighted alleged problems in Walmart’s compliance department, which oversaw the dispensing nationwide of controlled substance prescriptions. In particular, even after Walmart pharmacists informed the compliance unit about “pill-mill” prescribers whose practices raised egregious red flags, Walmart allegedly continued to fill invalid prescriptions issued by those prescribers, according to the suit. The suit said that only later did Walmart allow pharmacists to do blanket refusals for these suspect practices.
Walmart fought back in an emailed statement to The Associated Press, saying that the Justice Department’s investigation is “tainted by historical ethics violations.” It said the “lawsuit invents a legal theory that unlawfully forces pharmacists to come between patients and their doctors, and is riddled with factual inaccuracies and cherry-picked documents taken out of context.”
Walmart noted it always empowered its pharmacists to refuse to fill problematic opioids prescriptions, and said they refused to fill hundreds of thousands of such prescriptions. Walmart also noted it sent the Drug Enforcement Administration tens of thousands of investigative leads, and it blocked thousands of questionable doctors from having their opioid prescriptions filled at its pharmacies.
In a corporate blog post published late Tuesday, Walmart argued that many health regulators, medical groups, doctors and patients criticize the company for going too far in refusing to fill opioid prescriptions. Some even say Walmart is improperly interfering in the doctor-patient relationship, the company said.
AP reported the news of the lawsuit ahead of the Justice Department’s public announcement, citing a person who could not discuss the matter publicly before the announced move. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Walmart filed its own preemptive suit against the Justice Department, Attorney General William Barr and the Drug Enforcement Administration nearly two months ago.
In its lawsuit, Walmart said the Justice Department’s investigation — launched in 2016 — had identified hundreds of doctors who wrote problematic prescriptions that Walmart’s pharmacists should not have filled. But the lawsuit charged that nearly 70% of the doctors still have active registrations with the DEA.
“Blaming pharmacists for not second-guessing the very doctors the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approved to prescribe opioids is a transparent attempt to shift blame from DEA’s well-documented failures in keeping bad doctors from prescribing opioids in the first place,” the company said in its statement.
Walmart’s lawsuit alleged the government was blaming it for the lack of regulatory and enforcement policies to stem the crisis. The company is asking a federal judge to declare that the government’s suit has no basis to seek civil damages. That suit remains ongoing.
The initial investigation was the subject of a ProPublica story published in March. ProPublica reported that Joe Brown, then U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas office, spent years pursuing a criminal case against Walmart for its opioid prescription practices, only to have it stymied after the retail giant’s lawyers appealed to senior officials in the Justice Department.
Two months later, Brown resigned. He didn’t give a reason for his departure except to say he would be “pursuing opportunities in the private and public sectors.” Brown went into private practice in the Dallas area.
___
D’Innocenzio reported from New York.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-22--Report: Trump Throws Sidney Powell Under The Bus — Again

Sidney Powell has once again found herself down on her luck .
President Trump reportedly informed Powell , who was fired by the Trump campaign following an off-the-rails press conference last month where she peddled bonkers conspiracy theories about the election , on Monday that he isn ’ t planning to tap her as “ special counsel ” to probe baseless claims of widespread voter fraud , according to the Daily Beast .
Last week , Trump reportedly floated naming Powell as a special counsel investigating unfounded allegations of voter fraud during a meeting in the Oval Office in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is fascinated by Powell ’ s ongoing crusade to “ release the kraken , ” the sitting president reportedly has walked back the idea of giving the lawyer who formerly worked for his campaign in such an official capacity .
According to the Daily Beast , Trump ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani — who ’ s become the perspiring face of the President ’ s fruitless legal battles — said on Tuesday that Powell is “ no longer part of [ our ] team ” and “ is on her own.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting between various officials and advisers close to the president ( including Giuliani ) grew tense as they warned Trump that Powell has reached a dead end in her efforts to do Trump ’ s bidding regarding his bogus voter fraud claims .
The Trumpworld figures urged Trump to push Powell aside and turn his focus to other long-shot efforts to challenge election results .
The Daily Beast ’ s report comes a day after outgoing Attorney General William Barr dismissed the notion of appointing such a special counsel to investigate unsubstantiated claims @ @ @ @ @

Sidney Powell has once again found herself down on her luck.
President Trump reportedly informed Powell, who was fired by the Trump campaign following an off-the-rails press conference last month where she peddled bonkers conspiracy theories about the election, on Monday that he isn’t planning to tap her as “special counsel” to probe baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, according to the Daily Beast.
Last week, Trump reportedly floated naming Powell as a special counsel investigating unfounded allegations of voter fraud during a meeting in the Oval Office in the waning weeks of his presidency.
Although Trump is fascinated by Powell’s ongoing crusade to “release the kraken,” the sitting president reportedly has walked back the idea of giving the lawyer who formerly worked for his campaign in such an official capacity.
According to the Daily Beast, Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani — who’s become the perspiring face of the President’s fruitless legal battles — said on Tuesday that Powell is “no longer part of [our] team” and “is on her own.”
On Friday, a White House meeting between various officials and advisers close to the president (including Giuliani) grew tense as they warned Trump that Powell has reached a dead end in her efforts to do Trump’s bidding regarding his bogus voter fraud claims. The Trumpworld figures urged Trump to push Powell aside and turn his focus to other long-shot efforts to challenge election results.
The Daily Beast’s report comes a day after outgoing Attorney General William Barr dismissed the notion of appointing such a special counsel to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-22--Flanked By Security, Meadows Pops Up At GA Signature Audit To ‘Get To The Truth’

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows made a mostly pointless pilgrimage to Cobb County , Georgia Tuesday to “ get to the truth ” of the signature matching audit .
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , Meadows showed up flanked by secret service , but wasn ’ t let into the room where the voter signatures from ballot envelopes are being matched to the signatures on file .
“ I ’ m not making any allegations as much as I am trying to get to the truth , ” Meadows was overheard saying to Deputy Secretary of State Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county will not change the result of the November election , much to Meadows ’ boss ’ chagrin , but Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has touted it as a way to restore confidence in Georgia ’ s elections .
Republicans including President Donald Trump and the Republican Georgia senators were gung-ho on the signature audit for a while , seeing it as a way to keep hope alive that the outcome of the Nov. 3 election was still up for debate .
But they have since moved on to greener , runoff-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get ballots invalidated and targeting other pieces of the election system such as drop box usage .

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows made a mostly pointless pilgrimage to Cobb County, Georgia Tuesday to “get to the truth” of the signature matching audit.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Meadows showed up flanked by secret service, but wasn’t let into the room where the voter signatures from ballot envelopes are being matched to the signatures on file.
“I’m not making any allegations as much as I am trying to get to the truth,” Meadows was overheard saying to Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs.
The signature audit of the county will not change the result of the November election, much to Meadows’ boss’ chagrin, but Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has touted it as a way to restore confidence in Georgia’s elections.
Republicans including President Donald Trump and the Republican Georgia senators were gung-ho on the signature audit for a while, seeing it as a way to keep hope alive that the outcome of the Nov. 3 election was still up for debate. But they have since moved on to greener, runoff-related pastures like trying to lay the groundwork to get ballots invalidated and targeting other pieces of the election system such as drop box usage.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-22--Trump Gives Loyalists Ric Grenell, Hope Hicks, Pam Bondi Gigs On His Way Out

President Donald Trump on Tuesday added more loyalists to the long list of friends who ’ ve gotten plum jobs as he eyes the exits .
Hope Hicks , the Trump confidante and two-time White House employee , will serve on the board of the prestigious Fulbright scholarship .
But Hicks isn ’ t alone .
Tuesday ’ s list has a few familiar names : Ric Grenell , the former acting director of national intelligence who later played a key PR role in Trump ’ s effort to overturn the 2020 election , was given membership on the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani , Rudy ’ s son , was added to the council last week . )
Pam Bondi , the former Florida attorney general who served as Trump ’ s defense lawyer during the impeachment trial , was made a member of Kennedy Center ’ s board of trustees .
Stephanie Grisham , the White House press secretary that never held a briefing , will be a member of the National Board for Education Sciences ’ board of directors .
And Russell Vought , currently the director of the White House budget office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Naval Academy ’ s board of visitors .
Ezra Cohen-Watnick , who ’ s hopped from the White House National Security Council to the DOJ to the Pentagon over the course of Trump ’ s presidency , was named chairperson of the Public Interest Declassification Board .
The motley crew joins a lengthy tally of Trump allies to get presidentially-appointed positions on Trump ’ s way out the door .

President Donald Trump on Tuesday added more loyalists to the long list of friends who’ve gotten plum jobs as he eyes the exits.
Hope Hicks, the Trump confidante and two-time White House employee, will serve on the board of the prestigious Fulbright scholarship.
But Hicks isn’t alone. Tuesday’s list has a few familiar names: Ric Grenell, the former acting director of national intelligence who later played a key PR role in Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election, was given membership on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. (Andrew Giuliani, Rudy’s son, was added to the council last week.)
Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general who served as Trump’s defense lawyer during the impeachment trial, was made a member of Kennedy Center’s board of trustees.
Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary that never held a briefing, will be a member of the National Board for Education Sciences’ board of directors. And Russell Vought, currently the director of the White House budget office, is going to the United States Naval Academy’s board of visitors.
Ezra Cohen-Watnick, who’s hopped from the White House National Security Council to the DOJ to the Pentagon over the course of Trump’s presidency, was named chairperson of the Public Interest Declassification Board.
The motley crew joins a lengthy tally of Trump allies to get presidentially-appointed positions on Trump’s way out the door.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-22--What Biden Can Do With The Vaccine Rollout Mess Trump Is Dropping Into His Lap

The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are being administered , applauded on their way out of the warehouse and received with a game thumbs up by exhausted health care workers .
But amid the first bout of good pandemic-related news the country has experienced in months , the Biden administration is staring down a gargantuan task : how to take over the vaccine rollout and execute it on a mass scale .
Complicating this job is the fact that the Trump administration is promising widespread availability of the vaccine in early 2021 — without having crafted a coherent plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s unrealistic timeline for widespread vaccination , Democrats are increasingly acknowledging , sets the Biden administration up as a scapegoat for its successor ’ s failure .
Trump himself has , in spite of miscommunications around cut shipments and other early hiccups , loudly claimed that the distribution effort is going “ very smoothly.
” Now the Biden transition and congressional Democrats are bracing for the political ploy by attempting to soften the ground , getting people on TV to give a more realistic timeline and writing public letters lambasting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delays .
“ Taking the vaccine from a vial into the arm of millions of Americans is one of the biggest operational challenges the United States has ever faced , ” President-Elect Joe Biden said during a speech Tuesday .
“ We ’ re 300 million people .
And we ’ re going to take many more months for that to happen.
” The timeframe of the vaccine rollout already creates a situation in which the Trump administration ’ s lack of planning could be felt most sharply just as the new administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of the Trump administration , the government has the comparatively easy task of inoculating two static populations : frontline health care workers and nursing home residents and staff .
Kaiser Family Foundations estimates that 17.6 million people fall into those categories .
Once that first group has received their shots , the focus of the distribution effort broadens — meaning that the most difficult phases will take place during the start of Biden ’ s term .
“ In this first wave … the majority of the big pushes are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine , ” said Col. Victor Suarez , a vaccine program manager at Operation Warp Speed on a webinar hosted by a medical distribution trade group .
The next phase has the potential to collide with lack of funding and exhaustion at the state level , where officials will be in charge of overseeing inventory and ensuring it makes its way into people ’ s arms .
The $ 8.75 billion in the COVID-19 relief package , passed Monday night , will help , but it comes too late for states to preemptively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public education campaign off the ground and put the technological infrastructure in place to track people ’ s shots .
“ There are 64 jurisdictions , so potentially 64 different ways of how a jurisdiction is going to choose to allocate their vaccines , ” said Marion Whicker , a distribution official at Operation Warp Speed .
The Hurdles Facing The Biden Administration On Day One But the Biden administration , even one possibly hampered by an uncooperative Republican Senate , won ’ t be powerless .
There are specific pieces of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over — pieces that either by the Trump administration ’ s indifference or active harm have gone unaddressed .
Making Sure The Vaccine Rollout Doesn ’ t Miss Anybody A glaring risk in the vaccine rollout process is that the same communities that have been ravaged by the pandemic — particularly Black and Hispanic Americans — will be missed in the vaccine allocation .
That ’ s an area that the Biden administration , with its federal , birdseye view , can monitor .
“ Only the administration can look across the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populations at risk , or if they ’ re being shut out , ” Jen Kates , senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation , told TPM .
“ They can see if some states are doing better than others , if the allocation is being carried out equitably.
” “ I haven ’ t seen planning from the current administration to do that , ” she added .
It ’ s a potential problem some Democrats have been cognizant of for months .
What ’ s more is that Congressional negotiators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill passed this week : $ 300 million was appropriated to deliver the vaccine to underserved and high-risk communities that have borne the brunt of the virus .
Ensuring That The Vaccine Is Accessible To People Of Color Back in July , Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) and Ranking Member on the Subcommittee for Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Patty Murray ( D-WA ) penned a white paper outlining what the Trump administration would have to do to enable a smooth vaccine rollout .
The plan has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is allocated equitably , with a special eye on the populations that have been hit hardest by the disease so far , including making sure the vaccine was widely accessible , for free , and that recipients were followed up with after receiving their shot .
That paper was published in July , but federal plans to accomplish those objectives remain vague .
“ Given the massive racial inequities in our health care system , ” Murray told TPM , equitable vaccine distribution simply won ’ t happen unless it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those disparities .
“ We need a coordinated , government-wide plan that engages every community , gets information out , and prioritizes the equitable distribution of safe vaccines — and Congress needs to provide the adequate funding to make that happen , ” she said .
“ Obviously the Trump Administration fell far short of what ’ s needed , but I ’ m confident that the President-elect has selected a team that has the experience , expertise , urgency — and the right priorities — to jump in on day one to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind.
” Part of reaching those hard-hit communities is increasing public confidence in the vaccine , along with awareness about where and how to get it .
A Pew Research Survey from the beginning of December shows that only 42 percent of Black Americans say they would get the vaccine right away if it were available , as compared to over 60 percent of white and Hispanic Americans .
A Kaiser report from December 15 shows sunnier numbers , with 62 percent of Black Americans reporting willingness to get the vaccine .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not get it in the Kaiser study .
Studies have shown that Black Americans have a relatively high level of “ physician distrust , ” a natural reaction to decades of medical mistreatment dating back to slavery straight through the Tuskegee study to the alarmingly current statistic that Black mothers are three times more likely to die during or after childbirth than white ones .
It ’ ll take a specific education campaign , enlisting the help of community leaders and influencers , to earn trust in the vaccine .
And it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently 2.8 times likelier than White Americans to die of COVID-19 .
Convincing The Skeptical To Take The Shot The need for a concerted and tailored public messaging campaign extends beyond the Black community .
Republicans have also become increasingly wary of the vaccine , perhaps in part thanks to President Donald Trump ’ s determination to downplay the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic , a tactic he thought would help his reelection prospects .
Kaiser ’ s Kates said that the organization has been polling “ vaccine hesitancy ” on a monthly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling higher than most groups .
That December 15 report showed that 42 percent of Republicans say they probably or definitely wouldn ’ t get the vaccine , even if it was deemed safe by scientists .
“ Is the damage done ?
I don ’ t know , ” Kates said .
“ Hopefully the new administration can reset that and governors can put aside partisanship for the sake of public health.
” Howard Koh , Obama ’ s HHS Assistant Secretary for Health during the H1N1 crisis , added that efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — like the Trump administration ’ s federal partnership with pharmacies — would only solve a small part of the problem in getting the shot into people ’ s arms .
“ These are all issues that a single pharmacy can ’ t handle , ” Koh said , adding that locally run public information campaigns would be necessary in communities skeptical of the vaccine .
“ Outreach , communication and education are really important to raise trust , which right now is really having some challenges , ” Koh added .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that vacuum of federal messaging both for specific communities , and broadly with consistent , transparent messaging about the safety of the vaccine and the importance of getting it .
Finally , Biden may be able to breathe fresh air into funding negotiations that , until this week , were stalemated for a whopping eight months .
The $ 900 billion COVID-19 relief bill will certainly alleviate some of the more frightening short-term concerns , like the end-of-year cliffs for unemployment insurance and the rent moratorium .
But it only doles out $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 4.5 billion of that going right to the states .
That won ’ t be enough for the many states who have seen their budgets and public health departments hollowed out by the pandemic .
Republicans axed the $ 160 billion in state and local aid proposed by Democrats as a deal-breaker to the caucus .
Another package will likely be needed , a feat possibly made harder by the recent passage of this one , which was spurred by the government funding deadline and will give lawmakers some cover .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard across the aisle to get additional funding , ” Kates mused .
( The exact makeup of the Senate will not be known until the Jan. 5 Georgia runoffs . )
Koh added that the amount of work that still needs to be done is staggering .
“ Vaccination systems take years to build and the existing ones need to be upgraded and adjusted for any new threat , ” Koh said .
“ So this takes our existing infrastructure — which is overstretched at baseline — and asks health professionals who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up.
” “ So much of this could have been prevented and should have been prevented , ” he added .

The first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are being administered, applauded on their way out of the warehouse and received with a game thumbs up by exhausted health care workers.
But amid the first bout of good pandemic-related news the country has experienced in months, the Biden administration is staring down a gargantuan task: how to take over the vaccine rollout and execute it on a mass scale.
Complicating this job is the fact that the Trump administration is promising widespread availability of the vaccine in early 2021 — without having crafted a coherent plan to make that happen.
The Trump administration’s unrealistic timeline for widespread vaccination, Democrats are increasingly acknowledging, sets the Biden administration up as a scapegoat for its successor’s failure.
Trump himself has, in spite of miscommunications around cut shipments and other early hiccups, loudly claimed that the distribution effort is going “very smoothly.”
Now the Biden transition and congressional Democrats are bracing for the political ploy by attempting to soften the ground, getting people on TV to give a more realistic timeline and writing public letters lambasting the Trump administration as directly responsible for those delays.
“Taking the vaccine from a vial into the arm of millions of Americans is one of the biggest operational challenges the United States has ever faced,” President-Elect Joe Biden said during a speech Tuesday. “We’re 300 million people. And we’re going to take many more months for that to happen.”
The Setup
The timeframe of the vaccine rollout already creates a situation in which the Trump administration’s lack of planning could be felt most sharply just as the new administration comes into office.
In the final days of the Trump administration, the government has the comparatively easy task of inoculating two static populations: frontline health care workers and nursing home residents and staff. Kaiser Family Foundations estimates that 17.6 million people fall into those categories. Once that first group has received their shots, the focus of the distribution effort broadens — meaning that the most difficult phases will take place during the start of Biden’s term.
“In this first wave … the majority of the big pushes are going to those places most capable of handling the vaccine,” said Col. Victor Suarez, a vaccine program manager at Operation Warp Speed on a webinar hosted by a medical distribution trade group.
The next phase has the potential to collide with lack of funding and exhaustion at the state level, where officials will be in charge of overseeing inventory and ensuring it makes its way into people’s arms. The $8.75 billion in the COVID-19 relief package, passed Monday night, will help, but it comes too late for states to preemptively hire more vaccinators, get a robust public education campaign off the ground and put the technological infrastructure in place to track people’s shots.
“There are 64 jurisdictions, so potentially 64 different ways of how a jurisdiction is going to choose to allocate their vaccines,” said Marion Whicker, a distribution official at Operation Warp Speed.
The Hurdles Facing The Biden Administration On Day One
But the Biden administration, even one possibly hampered by an uncooperative Republican Senate, won’t be powerless. There are specific pieces of the rollout process it can target and take over — pieces that either by the Trump administration’s indifference or active harm have gone unaddressed.
Making Sure The Vaccine Rollout Doesn’t Miss Anybody
A glaring risk in the vaccine rollout process is that the same communities that have been ravaged by the pandemic — particularly Black and Hispanic Americans — will be missed in the vaccine allocation.
That’s an area that the Biden administration, with its federal, birdseye view, can monitor.
“Only the administration can look across the whole country to see if we are reaching populations at risk, or if they’re being shut out,” Jen Kates, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, told TPM. “They can see if some states are doing better than others, if the allocation is being carried out equitably.”
“I haven’t seen planning from the current administration to do that,” she added.
It’s a potential problem some Democrats have been cognizant of for months. What’s more is that Congressional negotiators extracted a key concession in the relief bill passed this week: $300 million was appropriated to deliver the vaccine to underserved and high-risk communities that have borne the brunt of the virus.
Ensuring That The Vaccine Is Accessible To People Of Color
Back in July, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Ranking Member on the Subcommittee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Patty Murray (D-WA) penned a white paper outlining what the Trump administration would have to do to enable a smooth vaccine rollout.
The plan has a whole subsection devoted to ensuring that the vaccine is allocated equitably, with a special eye on the populations that have been hit hardest by the disease so far, including making sure the vaccine was widely accessible, for free, and that recipients were followed up with after receiving their shot.
That paper was published in July, but federal plans to accomplish those objectives remain vague. “Given the massive racial inequities in our health care system,” Murray told TPM, equitable vaccine distribution simply won’t happen unless it’s rolled out in a way that addresses those disparities.
“We need a coordinated, government-wide plan that engages every community, gets information out, and prioritizes the equitable distribution of safe vaccines — and Congress needs to provide the adequate funding to make that happen,” she said. “Obviously the Trump Administration fell far short of what’s needed, but I’m confident that the President-elect has selected a team that has the experience, expertise, urgency — and the right priorities — to jump in on day one to make sure that no community is left behind.”
Part of reaching those hard-hit communities is increasing public confidence in the vaccine, along with awareness about where and how to get it.
A Pew Research Survey from the beginning of December shows that only 42 percent of Black Americans say they would get the vaccine right away if it were available, as compared to over 60 percent of white and Hispanic Americans. A Kaiser report from December 15 shows sunnier numbers, with 62 percent of Black Americans reporting willingness to get the vaccine. Still though, 35 percent say they would not get it in the Kaiser study.
Studies have shown that Black Americans have a relatively high level of “physician distrust,” a natural reaction to decades of medical mistreatment dating back to slavery straight through the Tuskegee study to the alarmingly current statistic that Black mothers are three times more likely to die during or after childbirth than white ones.
It’ll take a specific education campaign, enlisting the help of community leaders and influencers, to earn trust in the vaccine. And it’s undeniably crucial — Black Americans are currently 2.8 times likelier than White Americans to die of COVID-19.
Convincing The Skeptical To Take The Shot
The need for a concerted and tailored public messaging campaign extends beyond the Black community.
Republicans have also become increasingly wary of the vaccine, perhaps in part thanks to President Donald Trump’s determination to downplay the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, a tactic he thought would help his reelection prospects.
Kaiser’s Kates said that the organization has been polling “vaccine hesitancy” on a monthly basis, and that Republicans have been polling higher than most groups. That December 15 report showed that 42 percent of Republicans say they probably or definitely wouldn’t get the vaccine, even if it was deemed safe by scientists.
“Is the damage done? I don’t know,” Kates said. “Hopefully the new administration can reset that and governors can put aside partisanship for the sake of public health.”
Howard Koh, Obama’s HHS Assistant Secretary for Health during the H1N1 crisis, added that efforts to distribute the vaccine from centralized locations — like the Trump administration’s federal partnership with pharmacies — would only solve a small part of the problem in getting the shot into people’s arms.
“These are all issues that a single pharmacy can’t handle,” Koh said, adding that locally run public information campaigns would be necessary in communities skeptical of the vaccine.
“Outreach, communication and education are really important to raise trust, which right now is really having some challenges,” Koh added.
The Biden administration will be able to fill that vacuum of federal messaging both for specific communities, and broadly with consistent, transparent messaging about the safety of the vaccine and the importance of getting it.
Congress Can Finish The Job
Finally, Biden may be able to breathe fresh air into funding negotiations that, until this week, were stalemated for a whopping eight months.
The $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill will certainly alleviate some of the more frightening short-term concerns, like the end-of-year cliffs for unemployment insurance and the rent moratorium. But it only doles out $8.75 billion for vaccine distribution, with $4.5 billion of that going right to the states. That won’t be enough for the many states who have seen their budgets and public health departments hollowed out by the pandemic. Republicans axed the $160 billion in state and local aid proposed by Democrats as a deal-breaker to the caucus.
Another package will likely be needed, a feat possibly made harder by the recent passage of this one, which was spurred by the government funding deadline and will give lawmakers some cover.
“He’ll probably have to work hard across the aisle to get additional funding,” Kates mused. (The exact makeup of the Senate will not be known until the Jan. 5 Georgia runoffs.)
Koh added that the amount of work that still needs to be done is staggering.
“Vaccination systems take years to build and the existing ones need to be upgraded and adjusted for any new threat,” Koh said. “So this takes our existing infrastructure — which is overstretched at baseline — and asks health professionals who are already working 24/7 to ramp it up.”
“So much of this could have been prevented and should have been prevented,” he added.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-22--Hospital Administrators, Staff Debate A Crucial Vaccine Question: Who Goes First?

As newly-cleared COVID-19 vaccines reach hospitals around the country , health care leaders tasked with divvying up the shots among staff are all answering the same question at the same time : Who goes first ?
It ’ s a daunting balancing act , forcing administrators to weigh frontline workers with daily exposure to COVID-19 patients against the disease ’ s heavy mortality among older people and those with pre-existing conditions .
The first flare-up in the debate came Friday , when doctors at Stanford Medical Center protested an algorithm ’ s determination that just a handful of residents would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s first 5,000 shots .
“ First in the room — back of the line !
” they chanted in the hospital ’ s halls .
Stanford Medicine subsequently apologized and said it was revising its plan , but Stanford is hardly alone : A day prior , a marketing staffer set off anger among doctors at Mount Sinai , in New York , after posting a photo of himself receiving a vaccine .
A spokesperson for the hospital system said that was a mistake .
“ These fights within these institutions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ s an essential worker , ” said Arthur Caplan , a professor of Bioethics at NYU Langone .
“ You ’ re defining it as risk for an essential workforce — keep the system going , serve the food , make sure you prevent the health system from falling apart.
” Not just exposure , but levels of exposure Janis Orlowski , chief health care officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges , told TPM that hospital administrators she ’ d spoken to were generally vaccinating based on degrees of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure ’ but ‘ greater exposure , ’ ” she said .
“ So , the emergency room is being done before people who may see COVID cases , but not as much.
” This generally means prioritizing areas in which COVID-19 is most persistently present , like intensive care units .
Personnel who regularly come in close contact with COVID-19 patients , such as those performing intubations , are also at risk .
There are secondary concerns as well , such as the common but relatively minor reactions to the vaccination like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffing levels if much or all of a given department gets vaccinated on the same day .
In Colorado , UCHealth sent its first invitations for vaccinations “ to those with the most frequent and direct contact with patients who have COVID-19 , ” spokesperson Dan Weaver told TPM .
After that , they sent randomized messages “ to everyone else who works in clinical locations and who may have contact with patients who have COVID-19.
” In some systems , exposure levels aren ’ t the only factor .
Rather , administrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would face were they to get infected , on top of the likelihood that a given employee will be infected due to the nature of their work .
Washington University in St. Louis , for example , sorted by age among all “ patient-facing ” staff , starting with those aged 50 and older .
“ Patient-facing ” is defined broadly , as “ employees who work directly with patients or in patient care areas , ” and without preference for those with the most potential exposure to COVID-19 .
The university ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflects the greater risk older staff face if they ’ re infected .
“ We want to protect , first , those at high risk of poor outcomes if they become infected , ” said Hillary Babcock , medical director of occupational health ( infectious disease ) for Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children ’ s Hospitals , two university affiliates , in a Dec. 9 webcast on the policy .
But even after risk is assigned , the tricky logistics of vaccine delivery have tripped up administrators and in some cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trenches .
Mass General Brigham , the Massachusetts system , apologized to staff in recent days after its vaccine allocation app crashed — the result of a sign-up rush after the portal opened and thousands of people attempted to sign up for shots at once .
“ A first-come first-serve scramble for vaccination appointments explicitly disadvantages people who work more , ” one internal medicine resident , Emily Moin , tweeted of the scramble last week .
“ I ’ m about to start my night shift and I know that a hell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccinated today are not going to work tonight or tomorrow or the next day .
I don ’ t want to see your selfies.
” Once the system came back online , 10 minutes passed before all available slots were booked again .
WGBH noted that the timeline disadvantaged night shift workers and those who were actively working at the time , without easy access to their cell phones or the internet .
Yolonda Wilson , a professor of bioethics at St. Louis University , told TPM that institutional decision-making on vaccine distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by “ who ’ s in the room ” when a course is set — most often physicians and hospital administrators , and likely not janitorial staff or cafeteria workers .
“ What ends up happening is , you have to rely on who ’ s in the room to be thoughtful , ” Wilson said .
She framed the hospital vaccination debate as a precursor to the next several months of public rationing .
“ What is this going to look like writ large ?
” Wilson asked .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these questions , and some of the major health care systems — that presumably have bioethicists on board — are fumbling .
”

As newly-cleared COVID-19 vaccines reach hospitals around the country, health care leaders tasked with divvying up the shots among staff are all answering the same question at the same time: Who goes first?
It’s a daunting balancing act, forcing administrators to weigh frontline workers with daily exposure to COVID-19 patients against the disease’s heavy mortality among older people and those with pre-existing conditions.
The first flare-up in the debate came Friday, when doctors at Stanford Medical Center protested an algorithm’s determination that just a handful of residents would be among those receiving the institution’s first 5,000 shots. “First in the room — back of the line!” they chanted in the hospital’s halls.
Stanford Medicine subsequently apologized and said it was revising its plan, but Stanford is hardly alone: A day prior, a marketing staffer set off anger among doctors at Mount Sinai, in New York, after posting a photo of himself receiving a vaccine. A spokesperson for the hospital system said that was a mistake.
“These fights within these institutions are basically about, if you will, who’s an essential worker,” said Arthur Caplan, a professor of Bioethics at NYU Langone.
“You’re defining it as risk for an essential workforce — keep the system going, serve the food, make sure you prevent the health system from falling apart.”
Not just exposure, but levels of exposure
Janis Orlowski, chief health care officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges, told TPM that hospital administrators she’d spoken to were generally vaccinating based on degrees of COVID-19 exposure.
“Not just ‘exposure’ but ‘greater exposure,’” she said. “So, the emergency room is being done before people who may see COVID cases, but not as much.”
This generally means prioritizing areas in which COVID-19 is most persistently present, like intensive care units. Personnel who regularly come in close contact with COVID-19 patients, such as those performing intubations, are also at risk.
There are secondary concerns as well, such as the common but relatively minor reactions to the vaccination like fever and fatigue, which could affect staffing levels if much or all of a given department gets vaccinated on the same day.
In Colorado, UCHealth sent its first invitations for vaccinations “to those with the most frequent and direct contact with patients who have COVID-19,” spokesperson Dan Weaver told TPM. After that, they sent randomized messages “to everyone else who works in clinical locations and who may have contact with patients who have COVID-19.”
In some systems, exposure levels aren’t the only factor. Rather, administrators are considering the relative risk the employee would face were they to get infected, on top of the likelihood that a given employee will be infected due to the nature of their work.
Washington University in St. Louis, for example, sorted by age among all “patient-facing” staff, starting with those aged 50 and older. “Patient-facing” is defined broadly, as “employees who work directly with patients or in patient care areas,” and without preference for those with the most potential exposure to COVID-19.
The university’s health network has said the schema reflects the greater risk older staff face if they’re infected.
“We want to protect, first, those at high risk of poor outcomes if they become infected,” said Hillary Babcock, medical director of occupational health (infectious disease) for Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospitals, two university affiliates, in a Dec. 9 webcast on the policy.
‘A first-come first-serve scramble’
But even after risk is assigned, the tricky logistics of vaccine delivery have tripped up administrators and in some cases, stacked the deck against those in the trenches.
Mass General Brigham, the Massachusetts system, apologized to staff in recent days after its vaccine allocation app crashed — the result of a sign-up rush after the portal opened and thousands of people attempted to sign up for shots at once.
“A first-come first-serve scramble for vaccination appointments explicitly disadvantages people who work more,” one internal medicine resident, Emily Moin, tweeted of the scramble last week. “I’m about to start my night shift and I know that a hell of a lot of people who were vaccinated today are not going to work tonight or tomorrow or the next day. I don’t want to see your selfies.”
Once the system came back online, 10 minutes passed before all available slots were booked again. WGBH noted that the timeline disadvantaged night shift workers and those who were actively working at the time, without easy access to their cell phones or the internet.
Yolonda Wilson, a professor of bioethics at St. Louis University, told TPM that institutional decision-making on vaccine distribution and other tough questions can be biased by “who’s in the room” when a course is set — most often physicians and hospital administrators, and likely not janitorial staff or cafeteria workers.
“What ends up happening is, you have to rely on who’s in the room to be thoughtful,” Wilson said.
She framed the hospital vaccination debate as a precursor to the next several months of public rationing.
“What is this going to look like writ large?” Wilson asked. “We’ve seen health care systems struggling with these questions, and some of the major health care systems — that presumably have bioethicists on board — are fumbling.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-24--Jail Break! Trump Pardons Manafort And Stone In Latest Clemency Blitz

The White House on Wednesday night announced President Trump ’ s latest slew of pardon recipients , which included Paul Manafort , Roger Stone and Charles Kushner , the father of Jared Kushner .
Trump had previously commuted the 40-month prison sentence Roger Stone received for lying to Congress during its Russia investigation .
On Wednesday , Trump gave his longtime pal a full pardon .
Manafort — who had been prosecuted by special counsel Robert Mueller — had been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for various financial crimes and for unregistered foreign lobbying .
He had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sentence on house arrest during the COVID-19 outbreak due to health concerns .
Kushner was prosecuted by Chris Christie when the former New Jersey governor was a U.S. attorney for illegal campaign contributions , tax evasion and witness tampering .
The prosecution had reportedly caused longstanding tension between Jared Kushner and Christie , who was initially exiled from Trump ’ s inner circle after Trump ’ s election .
Additionally , Trump pardoned Margaret Hunter , wife of Duncan Hunter , the former House Republican whom Trump pardoned on Tuesday .
Margaret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count in the campaign finance scandal that also ensnared her husband .
In the clemency spree announced Wednesday , Trump granted pardons to 26 individuals and commuted the sentences of three others .
Trump ’ s lengthy pardon list , like Tuesday ’ s before it , included lots of politically-connected Republicans and Trump allies .
John Tate and Jesse Benton , for example , were aides on former Rep. Ron Paul ’ s ( R-TX ) presidential campaign in 2012 , and were found guilty in 2016 of public corruption charges related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state senator to endorse Paul .
The pardon was supported by Lee Goldman , the former Federal Election Commission chairman — and Sen. Rand Paul ( R-KY ) , Ron ’ s son and one of Trump ’ s top allies in the U.S. Senate .
John Boultbee and Peter Atkinson , who also received pardons , were part of the same fraud scheme as Conrad Black — the author of a glowing pro-Trump biography and the recipient of his own presidential pardon .
Trump ’ s list also reflects a particular aspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to waging with his pardon pen : The crimes of law enforcement officers who ’ ve been convicted of various sorts of brutality , and who ’ ve managed to catch his attention via the conservative media pipeline .
Stephanie Mohr , a former police K9 officer who was pardoned Wednesday , was found in 2001 to have violated the civil rights of a homeless man after she released her dog on him despite his surrender .
Starting earlier this year , she launched a pardon campaign and appeared several times on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gary Brugman fits a similar mold .
Brugman , a former Border Patrol officer who received a pardon Wednesday , was found guilty in 2005 of violating the civil rights of an undocumented man by kicking and punching him during an arrest at the border .
On top of an all-star list of conservative politicians and media personalities that endorsed his pardon , the White House noted that “ numerous members of the U.S. Border Patrol ” were behind Brugman as well .
This post has been updated .

The White House on Wednesday night announced President Trump’s latest slew of pardon recipients, which included Paul Manafort, Roger Stone and Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner.
Trump had previously commuted the 40-month prison sentence Roger Stone received for lying to Congress during its Russia investigation. On Wednesday, Trump gave his longtime pal a full pardon.
Manafort — who had been prosecuted by special counsel Robert Mueller — had been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for various financial crimes and for unregistered foreign lobbying. He had been allowed to leave prison and serve his sentence on house arrest during the COVID-19 outbreak due to health concerns.
Mr. President, my family & I humbly thank you for the Presidential Pardon you bestowed on me. Words cannot fully convey how grateful we are. — Paul Manafort (@PaulManafort) December 24, 2020
Kushner was prosecuted by Chris Christie when the former New Jersey governor was a U.S. attorney for illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion and witness tampering. The prosecution had reportedly caused longstanding tension between Jared Kushner and Christie, who was initially exiled from Trump’s inner circle after Trump’s election.
Additionally, Trump pardoned Margaret Hunter, wife of Duncan Hunter, the former House Republican whom Trump pardoned on Tuesday. Margaret Hunter had pleaded guilty to a conspiracy count in the campaign finance scandal that also ensnared her husband.
In the clemency spree announced Wednesday, Trump granted pardons to 26 individuals and commuted the sentences of three others. Trump’s lengthy pardon list, like Tuesday’s before it, included lots of politically-connected Republicans and Trump allies.
John Tate and Jesse Benton, for example, were aides on former Rep. Ron Paul’s (R-TX) presidential campaign in 2012, and were found guilty in 2016 of public corruption charges related to a conspiracy to bribe an Iowa state senator to endorse Paul.
The pardon was supported by Lee Goldman, the former Federal Election Commission chairman — and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Ron’s son and one of Trump’s top allies in the U.S. Senate.
John Boultbee and Peter Atkinson, who also received pardons, were part of the same fraud scheme as Conrad Black — the author of a glowing pro-Trump biography and the recipient of his own presidential pardon.
Trump’s list also reflects a particular aspect of the culture war he’s taken to waging with his pardon pen: The crimes of law enforcement officers who’ve been convicted of various sorts of brutality, and who’ve managed to catch his attention via the conservative media pipeline.
Stephanie Mohr, a former police K9 officer who was pardoned Wednesday, was found in 2001 to have violated the civil rights of a homeless man after she released her dog on him despite his surrender. Starting earlier this year, she launched a pardon campaign and appeared several times on fringe outlets like OANN and Newsmax.
Gary Brugman fits a similar mold. Brugman, a former Border Patrol officer who received a pardon Wednesday, was found guilty in 2005 of violating the civil rights of an undocumented man by kicking and punching him during an arrest at the border. On top of an all-star list of conservative politicians and media personalities that endorsed his pardon, the White House noted that “numerous members of the U.S. Border Patrol” were behind Brugman as well.
This post has been updated.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-23--GOP Rep.-Elect Transferred To ICU For Continued COVID-19 Treatment

Rep.-elect Luke Letlow ( R-LA ) on Wednesday was transferred to an intensive care unit to continue treatment for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ announced he tested positive for COVID-19 and initially quarantined at his home .
The next @ @ @ @ @ to St. Francis Medical Center before being transferred over to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic @ @ @ @ @ .
Letlow representative Andrew Bautsch Bautsch did not specify details on Letlow ’ s condition @ @ @ @ @ Health Sciences Center Chancellor G.E .
Ghali said that Letlow is in stable condition in @ @ @ @ @ is receiving the antiviral drug Remdesivir and steroids — both of which President Trump was @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized for COVID-19 at Walter Reed Medical Center in October .

Rep.-elect Luke Letlow (R-LA) on Wednesday was transferred to an intensive care unit to continue treatment for COVID-19.
Last Friday, Letlow announced he tested positive for COVID-19 and initially quarantined at his home.
The next day, Letlow was admitted to St. Francis Medical Center before being transferred over to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center late Tuesday night.
Letlow representative Andrew Bautsch Bautsch did not specify details on Letlow’s condition in the statement.
LSU Health Sciences Center Chancellor G.E. Ghali said that Letlow is in stable condition in the ICU, where he is receiving the antiviral drug Remdesivir and steroids — both of which President Trump was treated with when he was hospitalized for COVID-19 at Walter Reed Medical Center in October.