Latest news with #RepublicanGovernorsAssociation
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Trump gives clemency to more than 20 people, including political allies
President Trump granted clemency to more than two dozen people Wednesday, including longtime political allies, reality TV stars and a Louisiana rapper. His decision was influenced by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson and the newly named Department of Justice Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, whose nomination for U.S. attorney for D.C. was withdrawn amid ethical concerns. 'Today 26 deserving individuals were granted clemencies and pardons. Each one represents a story of redemption, rehabilitation, and resilience. Their second chance is a second shot at life,' Johnson wrote in a Wednesday post on social platform X. The pardon czar later wrote that she was 'Tag teaming freedom with Ed.' Trump critics have questioned the motives behind the president's 'unprecedented' pardons and their projected impact on the criminal justice system. Here is a look at some individuals granted clemency: Imaad Zuberi was sentenced in 2021 to 12 years in prison after being convicted of obstructing an investigation into the president's 2017 inaugural committee, in addition to violating lobbying, campaign finance and tax laws. Zuberi donated more than $1.1 million to the Republican Party and committees with ties to the GOP after Trump's successful White House bid in 2016. Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland (R) received a pardon after being convicted in two federal cases. Rowland, once the nation's youngest governor, was elected to three terms prior to resigning. He also served as chair of the national Republican Governors Association in addition to three terms in Congress in the 1980s. In 2014, he was convicted of election fraud and obstruction of justice. The guilty verdict came more than a decade after he pleaded guilty to being involved in a $90,000 pay-to-play scheme that brought him luxury flights from Key Air of Oxford to Las Vegas and Florida, according to NBC Connecticut. Former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) was pardoned after resigning from the House of Representatives and pleading guilty to one count of felony tax fraud, and he 'acknowledged committing perjury, hiring illegal immigrants, and committing wire fraud,' according to The New York Times. The outlet said he operated a Manhattan restaurant where he failed to report $1 million in earnings and hundreds of thousands of dollars in employee wages. Grimm has been a vocal advocate for the president in recent years, taking to television to defend the New York native. Former Arkansas state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson was pardoned after being sentenced in 2023 to more than four years in prison in two cases involving bribery and tax fraud. He was one of several lawmakers and health care executives convicted in a Medicare fraud case, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported. Hutchinson is the son of former Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) and the nephew of former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R). Labor union leader James Callahan received a pardon one day before his scheduled sentencing before a federal judge. The former general president of the International Union of Operating Engineers pleaded guilty to accepting $315,000 in unreported goods and services from an advertising firm that the union used to place ads. The gifts he received ranged from free tickets to sporting events, concerts and theater showings in addition to hospitality packages, according to The Associated Press. 'I don't know why you were pardoned,' U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said, AP reported. 'You weren't pardoned because you were wrongfully convicted. You pled guilty to the misdemeanors. You weren't pardoned because you were missentenced. Sentencing hadn't even occurred. You weren't pardoned because the law was somehow unfair, either in general or to you.' Former Cincinnati City Council member Alexander 'P.G.' Sittenfeld (D) received a pardon following his 2022 conviction for bribery and extortion related to donations to a political action committee, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. He accepted $20,000 from undercover FBI agents posing as advocates for a downtown property. His case appeared headed to the Supreme Court for review. Sittenfeld was on the rise and expected to launch a successful mayoral bid before his conviction resulted in a 16-month prison sentence in 2024. He served more than four months before being released while his case was appealed, the Enquirer reported. Mark Bashaw, a former Army officer who was convicted by a military court-martial for refusing to follow the Pentagon's COVID-19 safety rules, received a pardon. He was discharged from the Army in 2022 after a military judge ruled that he failed to comply with the Army's COVID protocol. Bashaw refused to take the COVID-19 shot and would not work remotely or submit a coronavirus test before reporting to work in person in addition to not wearing a face mask indoors. Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley were granted clemency Wednesday after a 2022 conviction on bank fraud and tax evasion charges. Their family's lavish lifestyle was documented on the show 'Chrisley Knows Best,' which ran from 2014-23. Todd Chrisley was sentenced to 12 years in prison plus 16 months of probation, and Julie Chrisley received seven years behind bars plus 16 months of probation. Kentrell Gaulden, also known as 'NBA YoungBoy,' is a Louisiana-based rapper who was convicted of possessing weapons as a felon. He received a pardon. Gaulden, 25, is the father of 10 children and previously served several stints in juvenile detention. 'I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father and as an artist,' Gaulden said in a statement on Instagram. Trump commuted the federal life sentence of Chicago gang founder Larry Hoover. He co-founded the Gangster Disciples, which still operates on the street and in prison. Hoover, who was convicted of murdering a rival gang leader, is still serving a 200-year sentence for a state murder conviction, the Chicago Tribune reported. Advocates have urged Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) to pardon the inmate, who says he's no longer affiliated with the Gangster Disciples, the outlet said. Charles Tanner received a pardon five years after Trump commuted his life sentence at the end of his first term in 2020, The New York Times reported. He had been convicted of a nonviolent drug offense. The former a professional boxer from Indiana was arrested in 2004 for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Charles Scott was convicted of fraud for his role helping an Ohio corporation defraud investors. He also attempted to manipulate the company's stock, according to the Department of Justice. In 2024, he was sentenced to three years in prison for securities fraud and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. He received a pardon Wednesday. Earl Lamont Smith, a former Army reserve sergeant, was convicted of theft of government property for stealing thousands of government computers and selling them for profit. Smith pleaded guilty and waived his right to a trial. He was pardoned Wednesday by the president. John Moore and Tanner Mansell removed sharks from a government-sanctioned fishing line in federal waters. They were convicted of theft in 2022, despite their claims that they rescued the sharks from an illegal poaching operation, according to The New York Times. The two were pardoned for their crimes. Marlene and James Kernan of New York were convicted of willingly employing a felon at their New York business and subsequently sentenced to probation in 2010. They were pardoned, as reported by the Times. Additional clemency recipients include Garnett Smith, Edward Sotelo, Joe Sotelo, Marian Morgan, Anabel Valenzuela and Lawrence Duran, according to the Times. The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for more information on the individuals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump gives clemency to over 20 people, including political allies
President Trump granted clemency to over two dozen people on Wednesday, including longtime political allies, reality TV stars and a Louisiana rapper. His decision was influenced by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson and the newly named Department of Justice Pardon Attorney Ed Martin, whose nomination for U.S. Attorney for D.C. was withdrawn amid ethical concerns. 'Today 26 deserving individuals were granted clemencies and pardons. Each one represents a story of redemption, rehabilitation, and resilience. Their second chance is a second shot at life,' Johnson wrote in a Wednesday post on X. The pardon czar later wrote that she was, 'Tag teaming freedom with Ed.' Trump critics have questioned the motives behind the president's 'unprecedented' pardons and its projected impact on the criminal justice system. Here is a look at some individuals granted clemency: Imaad Zuberi was sentenced in 2021 to 12 years in prison after being convicted of obstructing an investigation into the president's 2017 inaugural committee, in addition to violating lobbying, campaign finance and tax laws. Zuberi donated over $1.1 million to the Republican Party and committees with ties to the GOP after Trump's successful White House bid in 2016. Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland (R) received a pardon after being convicted in two federal cases. Rowland, once the nation's youngest governor, was elected to three terms prior to resigning. He also served as chairman of the national Republican Governors Association in addition to three terms in Congress in the 1980s. In 2014, he was convicted of election fraud and obstruction of justice. The guilty verdict came more than a decade after he pleaded guilty to being involved in a $90,000 pay-to-play scheme that brought him luxury flights from Key Air of Oxford to Las Vegas and Florida, according to NBC Connecticut. Former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) was pardoned after resigning from the House of Representatives and pleading guilty to one count of felony tax fraud, and 'acknowledged committing perjury, hiring illegal immigrants, and committing wire fraud,' according to the New York Times. The outlet said he operated a Manhattan restaurant where he failed to report $1 million in earnings and hundreds of thousands of dollars in employee wages. Grimm has been a vocal advocate for the president in recent years, taking to television to defend the New York native. Former Arkansas state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson was pardoned after being sentenced in 2023 to over four years in prison in two cases involving bribery and tax fraud, and bribery. He was one of several lawmakers and health care executives convicted in a Medicare fraud case, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported. Hutchinson is the son of former Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) and nephew of former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.). Labor union leader James Callahan received a pardon one day before his scheduled sentencing before a federal judge. The former general president of the International Union of Operating Engineers pleading guilty to accepting $315,000 in unreported goods and services from an advertising firm that the union used to place ads. The gifts he received ranged from free tickets to sporting events, concerts and theater showings in addition to hospitality packages, according to the Associated Press. 'I don't know why you were pardoned,' U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said, AP reported. 'You weren't pardoned because you were wrongfully convicted. You pled guilty to the misdemeanors. You weren't pardoned because you were missentenced. Sentencing hadn't even occurred. You weren't pardoned because the law was somehow unfair, either in general or to you.' Former Cincinnati City Council member Alexander 'P.G.' Sittenfeld (D) received a pardon following his 2022 conviction for bribery and extortion related to donations to a political action committee, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. He accepted $20,000 from undercover FBI agents posing as advocates for a downtown property. His case appeared headed to the Supreme Court for review. Sittenfield was on the rise and expected to launch a successful mayoral bid before his conviction resulted in a 16-month prison sentence in 2024. He served about four-and-a-half months before being released while his case was appealed, the Enquirer reported. Mark Bashaw, a former Army officer who was convicted by a military court-martial for refusing to follow the Pentagon's COVID-19 safety rules, received a pardon. He was discharged from the Army in 2022 after a military judge ruled that he failed to comply with the Army's COVID protocol. Bashaw refused to take the COVID-19 shot and would not work remotely or submit a coronavirus test before reporting to work in person in addition to not wearing a face mask indoors. Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley were granted clemency on Wednesday after a 2022 conviction on bank fraud and tax evasion charges. Their family's lavish lifestyle was documented on the show 'Chrisley Knows Best,' which ran from 2014-23. The couple was sentenced to 12 years in prison plus 16 months of probation, and seven years behind bars plus 16 months of probation, respectively. Kentrell Gaulden, also known as 'NBA Youngboy' is a Louisiana based rapper who was convicted of possessing weapons as a felon. He received a pardon. Gaulden, 25, is the father of 10 children and previously served several stints in juvenile detention. 'I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father and as an artist,' Gaulden said in a statement on Instagram. Trump commuted the federal life sentence of Chicago gang founder Larry Hoover. He co-founded the Gangster Disciples, which still operates on the street and in prison. He was convicted Hoover, who was convicted of murdering a rival gang leader, still serving a 200-year sentence for a state murder conviction, the Chicago Tribune reported. Advocates have urged Gov. JB Pritzker to pardon the inmate, who says he's no longer affiliated with the Gangster Disciples, the outlet said. Charles Tanner received a pardon five years after Trump commuted his life sentence at the end of his first term in 2020, the New York Times reported. He had been convicted of a nonviolent drug offense. The former a professional boxer from Indiana was arrested in 2004 for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Charles Scott was convicted of fraud for his role helping an Ohio corporation defraud investors. He also attempted to manipulate the company's stock, according to the Department of Justice. In 2024, he was sentenced to three years in prison for securities fraud and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine. He received a pardon on Wednesday. Earl Lamont Smith, a former Army reserve sergeant, was convicted of theft of government property for stealing thousands of government computers and selling them for profit. Smith pleaded guilty and waived his right to a trial. He was pardoned by the president on Wednesday. John Moore and Tanner Mansell removed sharks from a government-sanctioned fishing line in federal waters. They were convicted of theft in 2022, despite their claims that they rescued the sharks from an illegal poaching operation, according to the New York Times. The two were pardoned for their crimes. Marlene and James Kernan of New York were convicted of willingly employing a felon at their New York business and subsequently sentenced to probation in 2010. They were pardoned, as reported by the Times. Additional clemency recipients include Garnett Smith, Edward Sotelo, Joe Sotelo, Marian Morgan, Anabel Valenzuela and Lawrence Duran, according to the outlet. The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for more information on the individuals.
Boston Globe
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Ex-Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, who resigned amid a corruption scandal, pardoned by Trump
'I am very humbled and deeply appreciative,' Rowland said in a statement to WTNH and other news outlets in Connecticut. 'This is a wonderful final resolution.' Once the nation's youngest governor, Rowland was elected three times to the state's highest office before resigning at the age of 47 amid a federal corruption investigation into gifts and favors that he accepted from state contractors and a growing move by state legislators to impeach him from office. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Rowland served 10 months in a federal prison camp after pleading guilty in 2004 to one count of conspiracy to steal honest services. Advertisement It was a stunning fall from grace for a man once considered a rising star in national Republican politics. The Waterbury native served three terms in Congress, was chairman of the national Republican Governors Association and a friend of former President George H.W. Bush. He was elected governor in 1994 at the age of 37. After finishing his prison sentence, Rowland found new life as a popular AM radio commentator. Advertisement But in 2014 he was convicted of conspiring to hide his work on political campaigns and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Associated Press reporter Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lombardo 1 of 7 GOP governors not signing letter to Trump in praise of ‘big beautiful bill'
Once in office, Lombardo warmed to policies that could diversify Nevada's one-trick pony economy, even as he opposed the federal spending measures enacted during the Biden administration that made the initiatives possible. (Photo: Richard Bednarski/Nevada Current) Republican governors gush over Trump's big beautiful bill — but not Lombardo Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is one of only a few Republican governors who didn't sign a letter sent to Donald Trump offering heaping praise and 'united' support of Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' House Republicans early Thursday passed their version the massive budget reconciliation bill that would slash Medicaid, food assistance and other programs while extending 2017 tax cuts and increasing spending on immigration enforcement. The Republican Governors Association announced 20 governors around the country signed onto a letter May 20 offering 'strong support' for the bill. Lombardo didn't respond to requests for comment on why he didn't sign the letter. Republican governors from Florida, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Vermont also didn't sign the letter. In the letter, governors assured Trump the 'landmark piece of legislation embodies your powerful vision to bring about the next great American revival.' 'It truly delivers on the bold promises all Republicans made to the American people to restore the security, prosperity, and fiscal sanity for our nation,' they wrote. The governors praised the proposed significant increase in spending on deportation and $150 billion in new money for defense and national security. The governors declined to mention the significant cuts being proposed in the bill, including reducing food aid by $267 billion over 10 years and Medicaid spending $700 billion Nor did they note that the Congressional Budget Office projects Trump's tax cuts will add $3.8 trillion to the national debt over a decade. Trump's budget request also proposed $33 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which social services providers and local officials warn would devastate Nevada. Lombardo has expressed reservations about some of policies that are now featured in the Trump budget bill, including deportations and Medicaid cuts.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
"There's a lot of misinformation out there": Right-wing ads claim that Republicans love Medicaid
As Republicans hone the details of their plan to strip $880 billion in federal funding from Medicaid and similar programs, the GOP and its allies are launching a concerted effort aimed at obscuring those efforts. In the past few days, GOP-affiliated organizations have launched two new ad campaigns with the goal of convincing voters that Republicans aren't doing the very thing that they're currently doing: trying to cut Medicaid. On Tuesday, the American Action Network, a conservative issue advocacy group that helps promote Republicans, launched a $7 million ad campaign across 30 congressional districts claiming that reporting on the GOP efforts to defund Medicaid was 'misinformation.' 'There's a lot of misinformation out there trying to scare seniors. Trust me, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans is fighting to protect us. She's supporting President Trump's common-sense reforms to root out waste, fraud and abuse, fixing the Biden pill penalty while preserving our benefits,' one TV ad in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District said. Another ad by the group attempts to shift the focus from Medicaid to Medicare, a program that is not currently on the chopping block. Medicaid is a joint state and federal health insurance program for low-income households, whereas Medicare is mostly reserved for those age 65 and older. The ad attacks Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, for voting against a GOP continuing resolution that funded the government through September, which most Democrats opposed because it did nothing to check the Trump administration's impoundment of congressionally-authorized spending. The ad, however, frames this as voting against Medicare. 'I can't survive without Medicare yet when the time came to protect and fund Medicare, Congresswoman Kaptur voted no. A bipartisan vote and Marcy Kaptur chose to play politics instead of standing up for us,' the narrator states. The American Action Network's ads are running across 30 congressional districts, including competitive ones like those represented by Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Jared Golden, D-Maine, as well as districts represented by GOP leadership, including Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. Another conservative group, Plymouth Union Public Advocacy, came in with a $650,000 ad campaign on Wednesday. One ad, set to run across eight states with Republican senators, claims that 'President Trump is stepping into the ring, fighting to preserve Medicaid for those who need it most.' The rest of the ad advocates for premium tax credits, a provision of the Affordable Care Act, that enables the federal government to partially subsidize the cost of private health insurance. Plymouth Union Public Advocacy is a Trump-promoting nonprofit run by the former political director of the Republican Governors Association and other GOP operatives. Because of its non-profit status, it is not required to make the same financial disclosures and other political organizations. The ad campaign is set to run in South Dakota, West Virginia, Louisiana, Maine, Idaho, Utah, Alaska and North Carolina, all states with Republican senators. 'Preserve Medicaid and make premium tax credits work for more families,' the narrator states. In conjunction with the ad blitz, Republicans have taken to town halls claiming that they won't cut Medicaid benefits. Some, like Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., have even said on the floor of the House that the GOP budget will 'increase Medicaid expenditures by at least 25% over the next 10 years.' Dean Baker, an economist and co-founder at the Center for Economic Policy Research, told Salon that such promises don't add up. "The House passed a budget reconciliation bill that called on the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion over the next decade from the programs it oversees. If they exclude Medicaid, the other programs' baseline spending would not be $880 billion over the decade," Baker said. "That means that if they would hit this target, they would need to cut Medicaid even if they zeroed out everything else in the programs they oversee." The deluge of messaging comes as the GOP is zeroing in on how specifically they are planning to cut Medicaid and other programs. The American Prospect reported this week that Republicans are circulating a menu of options, including work requirements and a plan to increase out-of-pocket expenses for recipients working at or above the federal poverty line. Meanwhile, Politico reported that self-described moderate Republicans are warming up to the idea of implementing work requirements and making eligibility checks more frequent, though these provisions wouldn't come close to fulfilling the $880 billion in cuts that Republicans asked the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the committee that oversees Medicaid, to find.
