Gina the Great

Biden "leaves tonight on a foreign trip that will put him out of earshot of reporters for several days, meaning there will be little chance to ask him about it or for him to explain himself verbally to the country."

Here is a list of some of Donald Trump’s most controversial pardons during his presidency: 1. Joe Arpaio (August 2017)    •   Controversy: The former Arizona sheriff was convicted of criminal contempt for ignoring a court order to stop racial profiling in his immigration enforcement practices. Critics argued the pardon undermined judicial authority and condoned discriminatory practices. 2. Scooter Libby (April 2018)    •   Controversy: Libby, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in a case related to the leak of a CIA officer’s identity. Many saw the pardon as politically motivated. 3. Dinesh D’Souza (May 2018)    •   Controversy: The conservative commentator pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations. Trump’s pardon was criticized as favoring a political ally who was an outspoken supporter of the president. 4. Michael Milken (February 2020)    •   Controversy: The “junk bond king” was convicted of securities fraud and other financial crimes in the 1980s. Critics viewed the pardon as rewarding a wealthy, well-connected individual. 5. Roger Stone (December 2020)    •   Controversy: Stone, a longtime Trump ally, was convicted of lying to Congress, obstruction, and witness tampering in connection to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The pardon was seen as shielding a close associate. 6. Paul Manafort (December 2020)    •   Controversy: Trump’s former campaign chairman was convicted of financial crimes related to his work in Ukraine. The pardon was heavily criticized as a means of protecting Trump’s inner circle. 7. Charles Kushner (December 2020)    •   Controversy: Jared Kushner’s father was convicted of tax evasion, witness tampering, and illegal campaign contributions. The pardon was widely seen as nepotistic. 8. Blackwater Guards (December 2020)    •   Controversy: Four contractors convicted of killing 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians in the 2007 Nisour Square massacre were pardoned. The decision drew international condemnation for undermining justice for war crimes. 9. Steve Bannon (January 2021)    •   Controversy: Trump’s former strategist was charged with defrauding donors in a fundraising campaign to build a border wall. The pardon came just before Trump left office and raised questions about favoritism toward political allies. 10. Lil Wayne & Kodak Black (January 2021)    •   Controversy: Both rappers were convicted of firearm offenses. While their pardons were less politically charged, critics argued they highlighted favoritism toward celebrities with personal connections to Trump. These pardons frequently sparked accusations of favoritism, undermining judicial integrity, and prioritizing political and personal interests.