Trump criticizes Jerry Brown for using his pardon powers

President Donald Trump blasted California Gov. Jerry Brown Saturday for using his pardon powers.

Trump, on Twitter, disparaged Brown with his old “Moonbeam” nickname, and then criticized him for issuing Good Friday pardons, a tradition for Brown.

“Is this really what the great people of California want?” Trump wrote, listing some of the crimes committed by those either pardoned or issued clemency by Brown, including spousal abuse.

Trump also continued his attacks on Amazon.com, whose CEO, Jeff Bezos, owns the Washington Post.

Trump, who has been frustrated with the Post’s reporting on his administration, said the newspaper should register as a lobbyist, which renewed concern about the president’s regard for an independent press.

Brown issued 56 pardons and 14 sentence commutations Friday. Five of those who were pardoned faced possible deportation.

Trump’s criticism of the pardon power could remind the public that Trump has refused to rule out using it himself on key figures implicated in the ongoing Russia probe. The New York Times reported this week that Trump’s attorney had floated the idea of pardoning Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security advisor, and Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman.

Leaving the prospect of pardons open could discourage some people from cooperating fully with the investigation in an effort to win Trump’s favor.