Democrats are fearful that Trump — exuberant over the conclusions of Robert Mueller’s probe — could feel emboldened to quickly pardon allies swept up in the two-year investigation
One of Trump’s top allies on Capitol Hill also said it was far too early to discuss pardons, even in the case of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI and has become somewhat of a sympathetic figure in pro-Trump circles.
“It is too soon to have discussions of pardons but many of us who have a deeper understanding of what transpired and the motivations surrounding General Flynn's case believe justice would be served with extreme leniency from the sentencing judge,” Rep. Mark Meadows , chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said late Sunday.
But Democrats have been worrying for nearly two years that Trump might seek to grant reprieves to his political allies in exchange for their loyalty — and with other investigations pending that could ensnare the president or his allies, they note that pardons could still be consequential.
Contributing to their concern, Trump has already pardoned some political allies, including former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, actions that Democrats on Capitol Hill have suggested could have been test cases for granting reprieves to witnesses in investigations involving him, his company or his campaign.
“It is a concern of mine,” said Sen. Chris Coons on Saturday, a day before Attorney General William Barr released a four-page analysis of Mueller’s findings. “I am concerned that the president not misuse his pardon power in a way that will be seen as overtly partisan and to challenge or push back on the whole Mueller investigation.”
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