Prez’s pardons meant to assuage allies under fire
WASHINGTON — President Trump’s announcement that he would pardon conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, and his comments that he is also mulling pardons for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and celebrity lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, are meant to ease concerns of allies, not to service the traditional role of righting judicial injustices, experts said yesterday.
“If you’re Michael Cohen, the message is: ‘Stick with me,’ ” said Andrew Wright, former associate White House counsel during the Obama administration and Savannah Law School professor.
Hours after announcing D’Souza’s pardon on Twitter, Trump told reporters yesterday aboard Air Force One: “Rod Blagojevich: 18 years in jail for being stupid and saying things that every other politician, you know that many other politicians say.”
Blagojevich was convicted for corruption for a number of actions, including an attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by nowformer President Barack Obama.
Trump also spoke of Stewart, who was convicted in 2004 of obstruction of justice for lying about why she sold stock before its value plummeted.
“I think to a certain extent Martha Stewart was harshly and unfairly treated,” Trump told reporters.
Blagojevich and Stewart also appeared on versions of Trump’s former reality show “The Apprentice.” Trump and Stewart later had a falling out, leading to public quarrels between the two reality stars.
Still, experts say the signal about a potential pardon is meant to assuage former campaign aides, including Paul Manafort and Cohen, to remain loyal to the president. Stewart’s case has frequently been cited as an example prosecutors can use to bring charges for failing to be candid with federal investigators.
“Stewart fits the pattern completely,” said Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, noting that Stewart was investigated by the same New York-based office as Cohen, and that James Comey prosecuted Stewart. “Giuliani mentioned her case when discussing why they refuse an interview.”
D’Souza also fits that approach, Wright said.
“They were convicted of lying to prosecutors and of campaign finance violations,” Wright said. “Those are suggesting that his view of those offenses is that they are not offenses worthy of meting out punishment.”