Trump Pardons Rod Blagojevich And Other Controversial Criminals | TODAY

On Tuesday President Trump pardoned 11 convicted criminals, including former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, while calling himself “the chief law enforcement officer of the country.” NBC White House correspondent Peter Alexander reports for TODAY.

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Trump Pardons Rod Blagojevich And Other Controversial Criminals | TODAY

[martinestigoy]

Well This The LAND OF THE FREE. GOD BLESS THE USA

[joehanshaw]

It was a sham prosecution in the first place

[biffbinford]

When this guy starts talking Mr Obama is going to be sweating.

[cjbrown]

I forget, did Trump say he was going to "clean the swamp, " or let the alligators back into the swamp? Let's not forget Arpaio, the criminal Sheriff from AZ.

[diamonddavey]

Who was that billionaire who through Trump a fund raiser dinner ?

[priscillafranklin]

Free Michael Flynn, Free Roger Stone, Free Julian Assange!

[ArkansasPrepper]

IT WAS NOT A (Google: Pardon vs Commuted)

[natelove]

Rod didn’t say anything about selling a seat. He could of meant he was going to endorse a new candidate to take Obama’s seat. Rod had a lot of enemies in the Democratic Party. That’s why he should become a Republican👍

[marylogestia]

So glad Rod is freed there's so many more doing worse and have no accountability

[taroman]

where else is Trump going to find new cabinet members?

[GS-qrom]

FALN Commutation of 1999[edit]

On August 11, 1999, Clinton commuted the sentences of 16 members of FALN, which is a Puerto Rican paramilitary organization that set off 120 bombs in the United States, mostly in New York City and Chicago. There were convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery, bomb-making, and sedition, as well as firearms and explosives violations.[5] The 16 were convicted of conspiracy and sedition and sentenced with terms ranging from 35 to 105 years in prison. Congress, however, recognizes that the FALN is responsible for "6 deaths and the permanent maiming of dozens of others, including law enforcement officials." Clinton offered clemency on the condition that the prisoners renounce violence, seeing as none of the 16 had been convicted of harming anyone and they had already served 19 years in prison. This action was lobbied for by ten Nobel Laureates and the Archbishop of Puerto Rico.[6] The commutation was opposed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons and was criticized by many, including former victims of FALN terrorist activities and the Fraternal Order of Police.[7] Hillary Clinton, then campaigning for her first term in the Senate, initially supported the commutation, [8] but withdrew her support three days later.[9]

Congress condemned this action by President Clinton, with votes of 95–2 in the Senate and 311–41 in the House.[10][11] The U.S. House Committee on Government Reform held an investigation on the matter, but the Justice Department prevented FBI officials from testifying.[12] President Clinton cited executive privilege for his refusal to turn over some documents to Congress related to his decision to offer clemency to members of the FALN terrorist group.

Among those who accepted clemency are:

Edwin Cortes, sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Elizam Escobar, sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Ricardo Jimenez, sentenced to 90 years in prison.
Adolfo Matos, sentenced to 70 years in prison.
Dylcia Noemi Pagan, sentenced to 55 years in prison.
Alicia Rodríguez, sentenced to 55 years in prison.
Ida Luz Rodriguez, sentenced to 75 years in prison.
Luis Rosa, sentenced to 75 years in prison.
Carmen Valentin, sentenced to 90 years in prison.
Alberto Rodriguez, sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Alejandrina Torres, sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Juan Enrique Segarra-Palmer, sentenced to 55 years in prison; released on 25 January 2004.[13][14]

Those who rejected clemency include:

Antonio Camacho-Negron, sentenced to 15 years in prison; released in 2006.
Oscar López Rivera, sentenced to 70 years in prison, released in 2017 after sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama

[adjohnsonsr]

Rocking that Dr. Uncle Phil hair piece

[Dehmitz]

I always thought Blago was an inept opportunist, trying to play games he wasn't smart enough to play, but 14 years seemed like overkill.

[joealonzo]

Blagojevich told reporters he was grateful to President Trump for commuting his prison sentence, allowing him to return to his family in Chicago. “I think it’s appropriate to express my deepest, most profound, and everlasting gratitude to President Trump, ” Blagojevich said.
“He didn’t have to do this, ” he continued. “He’s a Republican president, I was Democrat governor and my fellow Democrats haven’t exactly been very nice to him.” “He’s got obviously a big fan in me, if you’re asking me what my party affiliation is, I’m a Trumpocrat, ” Blagojevich said to reporters in the Denver airport after he was released.

[garnetstewart]

Will Blagojevich become the new ambassador to Ukraine?

[Scorch]

I don't understand why President Trump pardoned "Rod Blagojevich" of all people. This isn't the kind of thing will get any significant number of Left-leaning Americans to vote for Trump in November of 2020.

[ArkansasPrepper]

IT WAS NOT A (Google: Pardon vs Commuted)

[ArkansasPrepper]

IT WAS NOT A (Google: Pardon vs Commuted)

[ArkansasPrepper]

IT WAS NOT A (Google: Pardon vs Commuted)

[ArkansasPrepper]

IT WAS NOT A (Google: Pardon vs Commuted)