The US President has come under fire again this week after commuting the sentences of 11 high-profile criminals this week – including what he has called a “ridiculous” 14-year prison sentence for Rod Blagojevich (pictured) – a Democrat and former governor of Illinois who appeared on Trump’s reality TV show Celebrity Apprentice.
Mr Blagojevich was convicted on charges of political corruption, including seeking to sell a Senate appointment in 2012 – and Trump’s speech made it clear he saw similarities between the people who investigated the alleged collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election, and those who saw Mr Blagojevich convicted.
“It was a prosecution by the same people – Comey, Fitzpatrick, the same group,” he said.
While Trump got the name wrong, he was referring to Patrick Fitzgerald, the former US attorney who prosecuted Mr Blagojevich and now represents former FBI director James Comey – who was fired by Trump in May 2017.
The President also pardoned former New York police commissioner Bernie Kerik, who served just over three years for tax fraud and lying to the White House while being interviewed to serve as homeland security secretary, and Edward DeBartolo Jr, the former San Francisco 49ers owner convicted in a gambling fraud scandal after building one of the most successful NFL teams in history.
“Somebody has to stick up for the people,” Trump said.
Considering the clemency spree comes in the wake of his impeachment acquittal, we’re thinking it’s more about showing who’s boss.
