Abusing the Pardon Power
Recently, Trump cancelled the charges against Daniel Edwin Wilson, a man who was serving time in prison for gun charges. The president justified pardoning the criminal because Wilson had previously participated in the January 6th breach of the Capitol.
A little over a year after Wilson’s participation, six firearms and 4,800 rounds of ammunition were found in his home, even though his previous convictions did not allow him to own any firearms.
In addition to pardoning a three-time criminal, Trump also excused the actions Suzanne Kaye, who was given an 18-month sentence for threatening FBI agents when they tried to speak to her about her potential participation in the January 6th riot.
Furthermore, Trump also erased Joseph Schwartz’ sentence. Despite not even being related to the events on January 6th, Schwartz, a former nursing home executive, stole $38 million from Americans in a massive tax fraud scheme. Well aware of his wrongdoing, the white-collar criminal pleaded guilty and was given 18 months in prison.
From ex-convicts owning large collections of firearms, to rioters threatening FBI agents, to nursing home executives stealing from the vulnerable, Trump’s administration is sending a clear message that any crime that does not harm his regime is permissible and often encouraged. In fact, Liz Oyer, the woman whose career once revolved around conducting presidential pardons, stated, “These pardons are a signal to Trump’s supporters that MAGA is above the law…MAGA supporters who commit crimes will not be held accountable.”
Ultimately, the U.S. president, whose job is to safeguard American liberties and promote public well-being, has turned on his people, undermining legal processes and allowing criminals to continue harming society. Maybe it is a distraction from his poll numbers.
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