Latest news with #Jan.6Committee
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's flurry of pardons include some to campaign contributors
The release from prison of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley Wednesday is the latest in a flurry of pardons that President Donald Trump has handed out in recent weeks -- including some to his political and financial supporters. Beyond the nearly 1,600 "Day 1" pardons and 14 commutations handed out to those charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Trump has, at this point in his second presidency, pardoned or commuted more than 60 individuals according to the Department of Justice Office of the Pardon Attorney and White House officials. In previous administrations, presidents have typically issued the majority of their pardons in their final weeks in office. MORE: Todd and Julie Chrisley released from prison after Trump's pardon Joe Biden, for example, issued pardons -- including preemptive ones -- during the final hours of his presidency to several of his close family members and others who he felt were potential targets of the incoming Trump administration, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and lawmakers who served on the House Jan. 6 Committee. Of Trump's 60 pardons or commutations unrelated to Jan. 6, about one in five of them have gone to those who have some sort of financial or political connection to him. Here is a list of those dozen recipients. The founder of the Nikola electric vehicle company, Milton, who was pardoned by Trump on March 27, donated nearly $2 million toward the president's reelection efforts last year, including $920,000 to the Trump 47 political action committee, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Trump pardoned Milton for his 2022 conviction of federal crimes related to defrauding investors about the potential of his technology. On March 28, Trump commuted the sentence of the venture capitalist and major political donor who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for violating campaign finance and tax laws, and obstructing an investigation into Trump's 2017 inaugural committee. Zuberi has donated to both Democrats and Republicans, but following the 2016 election, he donated at least $800,000 to committees associated with Trump and the Republican Party, according to FEC filings. A Nevada Republican who was pardoned on April 23, Fiore was awaiting sentencing on federal charges that she took money earmarked for a statue to honor a slain police officer and used it for personal expenses, including plastic surgery. A longtime Trump supporter, Fiore, during her run for governor of Nevada, ran an ad touting that she was one of the first elected officials to announce she was endorsing Trump in the lead-up to the 2016 election. In February, Trump pardoned the former Illinois governor who had been sentenced to 14 years in prison before Trump commuted his sentence in 2020. In 2011, Blagojevich was convicted on 17 counts of corruption, including an attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat that then-President Barack Obama vacated after being elected to the White House in 2008. Blagojevich supported Trump's 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns, and appeared as a contestant on Trump's TV show "The Celebrity Apprentice" in 2010. Grimm, who served in Congress from 2011-2015, pleaded guilty in December 2014 to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. He served seven months in jail, a month of house arrest, and 200 hours of community service. Grimm has publicly supported Trump and has served as an on-air personality for the conservative cable news channel Newsmax. Last September, Grimm was paralyzed after being thrown off a horse during a polo tournament. Archer and Galanis are two former business partners of Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, and both accused the younger Biden of improperly leveraging his father's political power to broker overseas business relationships, an allegation repeatedly leveled by Trump. Archer, who was granted a full pardon, was sentenced to more than a year in prison for defrauding a Native American tribal entity in 2022. Trump commuted the 189-month sentence of Jason Galanis, who was serving time for his role in multiple fraudulent schemes. Trump on May 28 officially pardoned the couple, who became famous for their show "Chrisley Knows Best" and who were sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison on charges including fraud and tax evasion. Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 16 months of probation while Julie Chrisley was ordered to serve seven years in prison and 16 months of probation. Their daughter, Savannah Chrisley appealed to the Trump administration for pardons for her parents and spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention. The president in April pardoned Walczak, a Florida businessman and nursing home executive who pleaded guilty to tax crimes last year. Prosecutors argued that Walczak withheld more than $10 million dollars from his employees' paychecks and used that money to buy luxury items for himself -- including a $2 million yacht. He was set to pay $4 million in restitution and serve 18 months in prison before Trump pardoned him. According to the New York Times, Walczak's pardon application stated that his mother, Elizabeth Fago, has donated and raised millions of dollars for Trump's presidential campaigns. The Times also reported that she recently attended a major fundraiser at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club, though it was unclear if she donated to attend the event. Trump pardoned Jenkins on May 26, one day before he was set to report to federal prison. The former Virginia sheriff had been convicted of federal bribery charges and sentenced to 10 years. Jenkins lobbied the administration for a pardon, and after he was pardoned Ed Martin tweeted "No MAGA left behind." A GoFundMe account supporting Jenkins says he was invited to the White House numerous times for briefings under the Trump administration and also appeared regularly on Fox News. A former Republican Tennessee state senator who pleaded guilty to an illegal campaign finance fraud scheme. Kelsey repeatedly accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the Justice Department -- a favorite line of President Trump. "God used Donald Trump to save me from the weaponized Biden DOJ," Kelsey wrote on X, announcing that he had received a pardon. Kelsey told the New York Times in an interview that three Republican members of Tennessee's congressional delegation -- Representatives Mark Green, Chuck Fleischmann and Andy Ogles -- all wrote letters in support of his petition for a pardon that he submitted to the Trump administration in January. He said that his clemency request likely resonated with Mr. Trump, whom he called "victim No. 1" of political persecution. Kelsey also donated roughly $15,000 to the Trump 47 Committee last year, according to filings. Trump's flurry of pardons include some to campaign contributors originally appeared on
29-05-2025
- Business
Trump's flurry of pardons include some to campaign contributors
The release from prison of reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley Wednesday is the latest in a flurry of pardons that President Donald Trump has handed out in recent weeks -- including some to his political and financial supporters. Beyond the nearly 1,600 "Day 1" pardons and 14 commutations handed out to those charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Trump has, at this point in his second presidency, pardoned or commuted more than 60 individuals according to the Department of Justice Office of the Pardon Attorney and White House officials. In previous administrations, presidents have typically issued the majority of their pardons in their final weeks in office. Joe Biden, for example, issued pardons -- including preemptive ones -- during the final hours of his presidency to several of his close family members and others who he felt were potential targets of the incoming Trump administration, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and lawmakers who served on the House Jan. 6 Committee. Of Trump's 60 pardons or commutations unrelated to Jan. 6, about one in five of them have gone to those who have some sort of financial or political connection to him. Here is a list of those dozen recipients. Trevor Milton The founder of the Nikola electric vehicle company, Milton, who was pardoned by Trump on March 27, donated nearly $2 million toward the president's reelection efforts last year, including $920,000 to the Trump 47 political action committee, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Trump pardoned Milton for his 2022 conviction of federal crimes related to defrauding investors about the potential of his technology. Imaad Zuberi On March 28, Trump commuted the sentence of the venture capitalist and major political donor who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for violating campaign finance and tax laws, and obstructing an investigation into Trump's 2017 inaugural committee. Zuberi has donated to both Democrats and Republicans, but following the 2016 election, he donated at least $800,000 to committees associated with Trump and the Republican Party, according to FEC filings. Michele Fiore A Nevada Republican who was pardoned on April 23, Fiore was awaiting sentencing on federal charges that she took money earmarked for a statue to honor a slain police officer and used it for personal expenses, including plastic surgery. A longtime Trump supporter, Fiore, during her run for governor of Nevada, ran an ad touting that she was one of the first elected officials to announce she was endorsing Trump in the lead-up to the 2016 election. Rod Blagojevich In February, Trump pardoned the former Illinois governor who had been sentenced to 14 years in prison before Trump commuted his sentence in 2020. In 2011, Blagojevich was convicted on 17 counts of corruption, including an attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat that then-President Barack Obama vacated after being elected to the White House in 2008. Blagojevich supported Trump's 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns, and appeared as a contestant on Trump's TV show "The Celebrity Apprentice" in 2010. Michael Grimm Grimm, who served in Congress from 2011-2015, pleaded guilty in December 2014 to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. He served seven months in jail, a month of house arrest, and 200 hours of community service. Grimm has publicly supported Trump and has served as an on-air personality for the conservative cable news channel Newsmax. Last September, Grimm was paralyzed after being thrown off a horse during a polo tournament. Devon Archer and Jason Galanis Archer and Galanis are two former business partners of Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, and both accused the younger Biden of improperly leveraging his father's political power to broker overseas business relationships, an allegation repeatedly leveled by Trump. Archer, who was granted a full pardon, was sentenced to more than a year in prison for defrauding a Native American tribal entity in 2022. Trump commuted the 189-month sentence of Jason Galanis, who was serving time for his role in multiple fraudulent schemes. Todd and Julie Chrisley Trump on May 28 officially pardoned the couple, who became famous for their show "Chrisley Knows Best" and who were sentenced in November 2022 to a combined 19 years in prison on charges including fraud and tax evasion. Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison and 16 months of probation while Julie Chrisley was ordered to serve seven years in prison and 16 months of probation. Their daughter, Savannah Chrisley appealed to the Trump administration for pardons for her parents and spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Paul Walczak The president in April pardoned Walczak, a Florida businessman and nursing home executive who pleaded guilty to tax crimes last year. Prosecutors argued that Walczak withheld more than $10 million dollars from his employees' paychecks and used that money to buy luxury items for himself -- including a $2 million yacht. He was set to pay $4 million in restitution and serve 18 months in prison before Trump pardoned him. According to the New York Times, Walczak's pardon application stated that his mother, Elizabeth Fago, has donated and raised millions of dollars for Trump's presidential campaigns. The Times also reported that she recently attended a major fundraiser at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club, though it was unclear if she donated to attend the event. Scott Howard Jenkins Trump pardoned Jenkins on May 26, one day before he was set to report to federal prison. The former Virginia sheriff had been convicted of federal bribery charges and sentenced to 10 years. Jenkins lobbied the administration for a pardon, and after he was pardoned Ed Martin tweeted "No MAGA left behind." A GoFundMe account supporting Jenkins says he was invited to the White House numerous times for briefings under the Trump administration and also appeared regularly on Fox News. Brian Kelsey A former Republican Tennessee state senator who pleaded guilty to an illegal campaign finance fraud scheme. Kelsey repeatedly accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the Justice Department -- a favorite line of President Trump. "God used Donald Trump to save me from the weaponized Biden DOJ," Kelsey wrote on X, announcing that he had received a pardon. Kelsey told the New York Times in an interview that three Republican members of Tennessee's congressional delegation -- Representatives Mark Green, Chuck Fleischmann and Andy Ogles -- all wrote letters in support of his petition for a pardon that he submitted to the Trump administration in January. He said that his clemency request likely resonated with Mr. Trump, whom he called "victim No. 1" of political persecution.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Republicans continue Fani Willis investigation, requesting documents from DA employees
Rep. Jim Jordan, GOP chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., sent employees from the Fulton County District Attorney's office requests Thursday to hand over documents and interviews related to the Jan. 6 Committee as they continue investigating District Attorney Fani Willis. "The committee previously wrote to District Attorney Willis requesting documents relating to her coordination with the January 6 Select Committee. Because District Attorney Willis has declined to cooperate, the committee must pursue other avenues to obtain this information," a press release states. Jordan and Loudermilk sent letters to Assistant Chief Investigator Michael Hill, Assistant Chief Investigator Trina Swanson-Lucas, Chief Senior District Attorney Donald Wakeford and Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten, requesting "all documents and communications" between the employees and "any member, staff member, agent, or representative of the January 6 Selection Committee." The Fani Willis Trump Fiasco Is Far From Over. In Fact, It's Just Getting Started The letters also request the employees hand over "all documents and communications referring or relating to records in your possession obtained" from the Jan. 6 Committee. All employees were asked to submit the requested documentation no later than Feb. 20. Read On The Fox News App The letters sent Thursday say the lawmakers had previously written to Willis "requesting documents relating to her coordination with the January 6 Select Committee." Fani Willis Declines To Share Jack Smith, Jan 6 Records, In A Blow To Conservative Watchdogs The lawmakers say they received a letter from Willis in December in which she confirmed the requested documents existed "but declined to produce such materials on the grounds that the materials were 'protected from disclosure by attorney-client privilege, work product privilege, and other common law protections.'" The DA's office asserted the same claim in a court filing that same month when it declined to turn over any new communications between Willis and special counsel Jack Smith, who had also been investigating alleged efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The filing asserted that the documents either did not exist or were exempt from disclosure under Georgia law. Georgia Appeals Court Disqualifies Da Fani Willis And Her Team From Trump Election Interference Case Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney had previously ordered Willis to produce any records of communication with either Smith or the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 within five business days. In doing so, the judge sided with Judicial Watch, a conservative legal group that had filed suit against Willis, determining that Willis had violated the state's open records act by failing to respond to the lawsuit. The House Judiciary Committee launched its investigation into whether Willis coordinated with the House Jan. 6 Committee in December 2023. Jordan and Loudermilk took the lead on the probe after learning that Willis' office "coordinated its investigative actions with the partisan Select Committee." The lawmakers said at the time that Willis asked the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 to share evidence with her office. Willis charged Trump with one count of violation of the Georgia RICO Act, three counts of criminal solicitation, six counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of filing false documents and two counts of making false statements. Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts. Fox News Digital reached out to Hill, Swanson-Lucas, Wakeford, Wooten and the DA's Office but did not immediately hear back. Fox News Digital's Breanne Deppisch and Brooke Singman contributed to this report. Original article source: House Republicans continue Fani Willis investigation, requesting documents from DA employees
Fox News
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
House Republicans continue Fani Willis investigation, requesting documents from DA employees
Rep. Jim Jordan, GOP chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., sent employees from the Fulton County District Attorney's office requests Thursday to hand over documents and interviews related to the Jan. 6 Committee as they continue investigating District Attorney Fani Willis. "The committee previously wrote to District Attorney Willis requesting documents relating to her coordination with the January 6 Select Committee. Because District Attorney Willis has declined to cooperate, the committee must pursue other avenues to obtain this information," a press release states. Jordan and Loudermilk sent letters to Assistant Chief Investigator Michael Hill, Assistant Chief Investigator Trina Swanson-Lucas, Chief Senior District Attorney Donald Wakeford and Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten, requesting "all documents and communications" between the employees and "any member, staff member, agent, or representative of the January 6 Selection Committee." The letters also request the employees hand over "all documents and communications referring or relating to records in your possession obtained" from the Jan. 6 Committee. All employees were asked to submit the requested documentation no later than Feb. 20. The letters sent Thursday say the lawmakers had previously written to Willis "requesting documents relating to her coordination with the January 6 Select Committee." The lawmakers say they received a letter from Willis in December in which she confirmed the requested documents existed "but declined to produce such materials on the grounds that the materials were 'protected from disclosure by attorney-client privilege, work product privilege, and other common law protections.'" The DA's office asserted the same claim in a court filing that same month when it declined to turn over any new communications between Willis and special counsel Jack Smith, who had also been investigating alleged efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The filing asserted that the documents either did not exist or were exempt from disclosure under Georgia law. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney had previously ordered Willis to produce any records of communication with either Smith or the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 within five business days. In doing so, the judge sided with Judicial Watch, a conservative legal group that had filed suit against Willis, determining that Willis had violated the state's open records act by failing to respond to the lawsuit. The House Judiciary Committee launched its investigation into whether Willis coordinated with the House Jan. 6 Committee in December 2023. Jordan and Loudermilk took the lead on the probe after learning that Willis' office "coordinated its investigative actions with the partisan Select Committee." The lawmakers said at the time that Willis asked the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 to share evidence with her office. Willis charged Trump with one count of violation of the Georgia RICO Act, three counts of criminal solicitation, six counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of filing false documents and two counts of making false statements. Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts. Fox News Digital reached out to Hill, Swanson-Lucas, Wakeford, Wooten and the DA's Office but did not immediately hear back.
