Donald Trump commutes Rod Blagojevich’s sentence and pardons Bernie Kerik

Donald Trump used his presidential power Tuesday to commute the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and issue a trio of pardons: to former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, 1980s junk bond king Michael Milken and former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.

The moves led to speculation more pardons may be in the works, particularly for those Trump associates – such as Roger Stone or Michael Flynn – who got caught and convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. 

‘Yes, we have commuted the sentence, he served eight years in jail, a long time,’ Trump told reporters about Blagojevich during a Q&A session at Joint Base Andrews before he left for a four-day trip to the West Coast.

‘I don’t know him very well, I’ve might’ve met him a couple of times,’ Trump added. ‘He was on for a short while on “The Apprentice” years ago. Seem like a nice person, don’t know him, but he served eight years in jail, it was a long time he had to go, many people disagree with the sentences. He’s a Democrat, he’s not a Republican.’

He added: ‘He will be able to go back home with his family after serving eight years in jail. That was a tremendously powerful ridiculous sentence in my opinion. And in the opinions of many others.’

Donald Trump issued a series of pardons and commutations on Tuesday

He also voiced his support for Kerik, a close friend of his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, and Milken, who became the face of insider trading.

President Trump called Kerik ‘a man who has had many recommendations from a lot of good people.’

And he praised Milken’s work on cancer research, saying he ‘has gone around and done an incredible job for the world with all of his research on cancer.

The president added: ‘He suffered greatly, he paid a big price, he’s done an incredible job.’

And he said he relies on recommendations when making his decisions on who to pardon.

‘These are all people that you have to see the recommendations. I am reliant recommendations,’ Trump said.

The rash of pardoning has led to rampant speculation the president may pardon his longtime friend and former campaign aide Roger Stone.

Stone was convicted on seven counts, including witness tampering and lying to investigators, as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Trump called the case against Stone ‘tainted’ in a tweet on Tuesday morning but the judge has denied a motion by Stone’s lawyers for a retrial.

‘I haven’t given it any thought,’ the president said Tuesday when asked if he would pardon Stone. ‘I think he’s been treated very unfairly.’

He also said he thought is former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was being treated unfairly. Flynn pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI in relation to Mueller’s investigation.

‘I think Roger stone has been treated unfairly. I think General Flynn has been treated very unfairly. I think a lot of people have been treated very unfairly,’ Trump said.

‘You will see what happens,’ he added.

Blagojevich was sent to prison for 14 years for soliciting bribes, including those for the Senate seat once held by Barack Obama. 

Donald Trump is expected to commute the 14 year sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Donald Trump is expected to commute the 14 year sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich

Trump will reportedly pardon former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik

Trump will reportedly pardon former New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik

Kerik was appointed police commissioner by Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is now Trump’s personal attorney. 

In June 2006, Kerik pleaded guilty in Bronx Supreme Court to two ethics violations. Kerik acknowledged that during the time he was Interior Minister of Iraq – under President George W. Bush – he accepted a $250,000 interest-free ‘loan’ from Israeli billionaire Eitan Wertheimer and failed to report it.

In November 2007, Kerik was indicted by a federal grand jury in White Plains, New York on charges of tax fraud, and making false statements to the federal government about the loan.

He later pleaded guilty to eight felony tax and false statement charges and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. That time concluded in October 2016.

Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor has been a resident of the Federal Correctional Institution, in Englewood, Colorado, since March 15, 2012. His expected release date was 2024, factoring in two years of credit for good behavior.

As governor, he was in charge of appointing a successor to Obama’s Senate seat after Obama was elected president. 

In 2009, Blagojevich appeared on NBC’s ‘The Apprentice,’ the reality TV show then hosted by Trump. 

The news follows Trump’s decision to pardon former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. on Tuesday and has increased speculation he will apply his presidential power to Roger Stone.

Several former NFL players were at the White House on Tuesday – including Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, Charles Haley, and Ronnie Lott – to speak the president about DeBartolo. 

They praised the decision to pardon him. 

 ‘I take my hat off to Donald Trump for what he did,’ Rice said. 

President Donald Trump pardoned former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.

President Donald Trump pardoned former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.

Eddie DeBartolo pled guilty to the charge of failing to report a felony, and received a $1 million fine and two years of probation

Eddie DeBartolo pled guilty to the charge of failing to report a felony, and received a $1 million fine and two years of probation

Pastor Darrell Scott, former NFL player Jim Brown, and White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley step out of the West Wing after speaking to President Trump about DeBartolo

Pastor Darrell Scott, former NFL player Jim Brown, and White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley step out of the West Wing after speaking to President Trump about DeBartolo

Brown called DeBartolo a ‘great man.’

DeBartolo paid $400,000 to former La. Gov. Edwin Edwards to help win a riverboat casino license in 1998. 

He pled guilty to the charge of failing to report a felony, and received a $1 million fine and two years of probation. And he was suspended for a year by the NFL. 

The son of a prominent real estate development family, DeBartolo owned the 49ers for 23 years and won five Super Bowls as their owner. He stepped down as owner in 1997 after two Louisiana newspapers reported he would be indicted for gambling fraud.

In 1992, DeBartolo was accused of sexual assault by a cocktail waitress he met at a local bar in California. He denied any wrongdoing and was never charged but reportedly paid $200,000 to settle the case out of court.

Rice, who as a wide receiver won three Super Bowls with the 49ers, praised DeBartolo’s ownership of the team.  

‘It was all about family. That’s really what they stood for. And that’s the reason why I think we won so many championships,’ Rice said.

‘Eddie was like that 12th man that was on that football field. You know that this guy, you know, he wanted us to win. And I think he’s the main reason why we won so many Super Bowls. So today is a great day for him. I’m glad to be here and be a part of that. And, you know, it’s just something I’ll never forget. You know, this man, he has done so much in the community, he has done so much in NFL football,’ he noted.   

Former NFL football player Jerry Rice praised Trump's decision

Former NFL football player Jerry Rice praised Trump’s decision

Former NFL football player Jim Brown is a long time Trump supporter

Former NFL football player Jim Brown is a long time Trump supporter

The pardon of DeBartolo comes amid speculation Trump will pardon Roger Stone

The pardon of DeBartolo comes amid speculation Trump will pardon Roger Stone

Jim Brown, who praised Trump’s decision, is a long time supporter of the president who co-hosted an inauguration party after Trump won the 2016 election. 

DeBartolo co-hosted that event with Brown, which honored those close to the president, including Michael Cohen, Trump’s then personal attorney who later went to prison for campaign finance violations and tax fraud, and and Omarosa Manigault Newman, the ‘Apprentice’ contestant turned White House aide who was later fired from that position.

The former fullback for the Cleveland, Brown was also at the White House in October 2018 when Trump met with rapper Kayne West in the Oval Office. 

Trump, meanwhile, used his pardon power for DeBartolo as speculation has mounted he may do the same for his longtime friend and former campaign aide Roger Stone.

Stone was convicted on seven counts, including witness tampering and lying to investigators, as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Trump called the case against Stone ‘tainted’ in a tweet on Tuesday morning but the judge has denied a motion by Stone’s lawyers for a retrial.  

 

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