The Justice Department recently replaced pardons posted online after it was discovered that they contained identical copies of President Donald Trump’s signature, sparking scrutiny and questions. The agency attributed the error to a “technical error” and staffing issues, however, the original versions raised concerns due to their identical signatures. Despite the controversy, legal experts maintain that the use of an autopen or an electronic signature does not affect the validity of a pardon as long as the president’s intent is clear. This incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s clemency decisions, especially those benefitting political allies and individuals claiming victimization.
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The Justice Department replaced pardons online that initially featured identical copies of President Trump’s signature, attributing the error to technical and staffing issues. Experts confirmed the signatures on the original documents were identical, raising questions about their authenticity. The administration insisted Trump signed all pardons personally and blamed the error on a “technical” problem, despite Trump’s criticism of his predecessor’s use of an autopen. Legal experts maintain the identical signatures do not affect the pardon’s validity.
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Trump re-pardons a Jan. 6 defendant to erase unrelated gun conviction, and it’s certainly a development that raises a lot of eyebrows. It’s hard not to notice the layers of complexity and potential implications that come with this action. We’re talking about a situation where a pardon was essentially doubled down on. The original pardon related to the defendant’s involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot. This is what you would expect. However, this re-pardon is aimed at wiping away a completely separate conviction – a firearms charge that stemmed from a different set of circumstances. It’s a bit like giving someone a “get out of jail free” card twice, even when the initial card should have been sufficient.… Continue reading
Taake, previously charged with sex crimes in Texas, was convicted of assaulting a police officer at the Capitol with bear spray and a whip during the January 6th riots. Despite the severity of his actions, which occurred while he was out on bond, Taake’s time served for the January 6th charges was credited toward his earlier sex crimes due to a blanket pardon, resulting in a significantly reduced sentence. He displayed no remorse for his actions and denied responsibility. His actions at the Capitol were deemed violent and not protected by the First Amendment.
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In a recent move, a Justice Department official announced that former U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned several of his allies, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, who were accused of supporting efforts to overturn the 2020 election. This “full, complete, and unconditional” pardon, detailed in a signed proclamation, also included conservative lawyers and individuals involved in submitting false certificates. The pardons, explicitly excluding Trump himself, underscore his ongoing attempts to reinterpret the election results, a move that follows similar pardons for those charged in the January 6th riot. This action, described as a step towards “national reconciliation,” targeted individuals facing state charges, while Trump himself had an indictment abandoned due to his victory over Kamala Harris.
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In a recent proclamation, President Donald Trump pardoned numerous political allies, including Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and Mark Meadows, for their involvement in alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. According to the document, the pardons are described as a step toward national reconciliation and cover a range of individuals, including co-defendants charged in Georgia. The pardons are only applicable to federal charges and do not extend to state or local charges, nor do they apply to Trump himself. Additionally, clemency was granted to a retired police officer convicted of stalking for the Chinese government and former baseball star Darryl Strawberry for a tax evasion charge.
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President Donald Trump pardoned former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, both of whom were convicted on federal corruption charges. The charges stemmed from a consulting firm, Phoenix Solutions, through which Casada and Cothren allegedly funneled money for campaign and taxpayer-funded work, including a mailer program. A White House official cited the Biden administration for over-prosecuting the men, who had been investigated during Trump’s first term. Casada confirmed the pardon, expressing gratitude for Trump’s trust, and noted the investigation began during Trump’s first term.
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The recent pardons issued by former President Donald Trump to ex-Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff Cade Cothren, shortly after their convictions on public corruption charges, have ignited controversy. Both men were found guilty of orchestrating a scheme to secure taxpayer funds through a mail business. A White House official defended the pardons, claiming the case was over-prosecuted, however, the acts of clemency continue a pattern of Trump pardoning political allies. These actions are likely to spark ongoing debate regarding presidential pardon power and accountability for public officials, especially as the convictions were related to a mailer program and involved a fictitious figure.
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Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges, has been pardoned by President Trump. The White House justified the pardon by citing the Biden administration’s alleged “war on cryptocurrency” and lack of fraud victims in Zhao’s case. Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the pardon, labeling it as “corruption” due to Zhao’s prior guilty plea and alleged support for Trump’s crypto ventures. Zhao’s pardon followed his November 2023 guilty plea and the company’s $4.3 billion settlement with the Department of Justice, where he was sentenced to only four months in jail.
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Christopher Moynihan, a Capitol rioter pardoned by President Trump, was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Court documents state Moynihan sent text messages detailing plans to “eliminate” Jeffries before a New York City event. Moynihan faces a felony charge of making a terroristic threat, as he was previously convicted of obstructing an official proceeding and sentenced to 21 months in prison. This arrest highlights concerns about recidivism among pardoned rioters, as this is not the first instance of a pardoned rioter facing new charges.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood