(TargetLiberty.org) – President Trump recently issued the highest amount of clemencies since he’s been in office, showing mercy to 11 people. Here’s a look at some of the most controversial ones.
Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich served from 2003 to 2009 as the Governor of Illinois. In 2009, he was found guilty of trying to sell Obama’s empty Senate seat in exchange for contributions to his campaign. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison and ended up doing 7 years before his recent release. While in prison, he taught GED classes, acted as a mentor to fellow prisoners, and informed people on their civic duties.
Michael Milken
Michael Milken served a few years in prison in the 1980s for violating securities laws. His crime gave him the nickname of the “Junk Bond King” because of his involvement in selling high-yield bonds. He ended up serving 22 months of a 10-year prison sentence in the early 90s.
After his release, he donated a large sum of his money to try and find a cure for cancer. He also started a nonprofit economic research firm. Trump felt he deserved clemency because of his contribution to cancer research.
Edward DeBartolo, Jr.
Edward DeBartolo, Jr. owned the San Francisco 49ers in the 90s. In 1998, he pled guilty after failing to report that former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards had extorted almost half a million dollars from him in order to receive a casino license. DeBartolo paid a $1 million fine, had a felony placed on his record, and was on probation for 2 years. He also gave up ownership of the 49ers. He received clemency after years of being a “generous philanthropist.”
Other people that received clemency from President Trump include Ariel Friedler, an entrepreneur who volunteers his time to promote better treatment of veterans, and Bernard Kerik, who led the NYPD’s response to the September 11 attacks.
We’ll keep you updated on any additional clemencies that President Trump grants.
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