US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, December 22 about fifteen pardons or clemency measures, which will benefit, among other things, two personalities implicated in the investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 election, as well as various individuals involved in the scandal of the private security company Blackwater, in Iraq.
These measures are expected to spark further controversy, as the Republican president refuses to admit his November 3 presidential defeat to Joe Biden, but must leave the White House on January 20.
A total pardon was thus granted to George Papadopoulos, former diplomatic adviser to Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign, and who had admitted to having lied to the FBI about his contacts with an intermediary who had promised to put him in touch with officials. Russian.
He had cooperated with investigators from Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller, who had conducted two years of investigations into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump team. The investigation could not conclude on the existence of an agreement between Moscow and the Republican billionaire. Mr. Papadopoulos had served twelve days in prison. “Today’s grace corrects the harm inflicted on many people by Mueller”, said the White House. A Dutch lawyer, Alex van der Zwaan, was also pardoned Tuesday by Donald Trump, after he was implicated in the Russian investigation.
At the end of November, Donald Trump had already pardoned Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, also implicated in the same case.
Involved in killings in Iraq
Pardons were also granted Tuesday by the US president to four former employees of the sulphurous private security company Blackwater, the latter being implicated in the murders of Iraqi citizens in 2007. One of these security guards, Nicholas Slatten, was sentenced to life imprisonment. They had been convicted of having taken part in a shooting in Baghdad on September 16, 2007: a bloody episode which had provoked an international scandal – having notably highlighted the use of private companies by the American army – and had increased resentment of Iraqis towards the United States. Fourteen Iraqi civilians were then killed and seventeen others wounded. The Blackwater guards had claimed to have acted in self-defense.
The White House claimed Tuesday evening that the four men, all former military personnel, had “A long history of service to the nation”.
Democrats have strongly criticized these pardon measures. “Trump places loyalty above all else: above the rule of law, above our democracy, and certainly above justice”, rebelled Adam Schiff, chairman of the House of Representatives intelligence committee.
