Pardon us, Don

Prez pals can still face N.Y. raps – Albany

ALBANY — A presidential pardon won’t be enough to keep those close to President Trump out of trouble in New York.

State lawmakers passed a measure Tuesday that will allow prosecutors to pursue state charges against a select group of people who have received a presidential pardon on federal crimes.

The bill would allow state prosecutors to open or advance investigations into any pardoned person who served in a president’s administration, worked directly or indirectly to advance their campaign or transition, or worked at a nonprofit or business controlled by the president and whose alleged criminal activity took place in New York.

Attorney General Letitia James said the measure “ensures that in the event that a person receives a presidential pardon based on a close relationship or self-interest, New York would preserve its authority to pursue legal action against that individual for crimes committed under state law.

“This legislation is a common-sense, good government measure that will ensure a reasonable check on the presidential pardon power for not only this president, but all future presidents,” James added.

Her office has launched several probes into the president, his businesses, charities and associates. Trump’s business empire and campaign are both based in the Big Apple.

James’ office has led probes into the Trump Foundation that resulted in the dissolution of the president’s nonprofit charity and another that led to subpoenas being sent to Deutsche Bank and Investors Bank for financial information related to the president, including his 2014 efforts to purchase the Buffalo Bills.

Currently, state prosecutors cannot bring charges based on the same facts used to convict individuals of federal crimes for which they received pardons, creating a so-called “doublejeopardy” loophole.

Sen. Todd Kaminsky (DNassau), a former federal prosecutor, said the bill would cover pardons when there is a “clear conflict of interest” when the defendants is a former or current staff member, appointee or family member.

“New York will now join about 24 other states that will have its law say that a presidential pardon does not restrict it from pursuing crimes that are committed within its own borders,” Kaminsky said.

The Democratic-led Assembly passed the measure, 90 to 52, sending it to Gov. Cuomo, who is expected to sign it. The Senate approved it last week.