50th District candidates differ on clemency

President Donald Trump granted clemency to a handful of high-profile felons last week, a move that generated national headlines and split the leading candidates seeking to replace former Rep. Duncan Hunter.

The differing views between Republicans Carl Demaio and Darrell Issa were particularly notable, given much of their campaigns amount to a contest of one-upsmanship over who is most loyal to Trump.

The president granted pardons or commuted sentences for 11 people on Tuesday. But the attention of the political world was largely focused on three: former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, junk bond king Michael Milken and former New York City police Commissioner Bernard Kerik.

Blagojevich was convicted on charges that he used his position as governor to essentially sell the U.S. Senate seat that was vacated after Barack Obama was elected president in 2008. Trump commuted his 14-year sentence after Blagojevich had served eight years.

The president pardoned Milken, who was convicted of securities and tax law violations in 1990, and Kerik, who was convicted of tax fraud and lying to federal officials while being interviewed to head the Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush.

The candidates in the 50th Congressional District were asked for their reaction to the president’s moves, and also whether they thought Trump should pardon Hunter or commute his eventual sentence. Hunter pleaded guilty in December to one felony charge related to using campaign funds on personal expenses. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17 and faces up to five years in prison.

“While I trust President Trump’s judgment on pardons and commutations, I am strongly opposed to politicians like Duncan Hunter or Rod Blagojevich receiving special treatment or lenient sentences,” said Demaio, a former radio talk show host and San Diego City Council member.

“Duncan Hunter violated the public trust and should be held accountable for his actions. A pardon would send the wrong message that politicians are held to a different standard or are somehow treated differently than everyone else.”

Demaio did not comment on the Milken or Kerik pardons.

Issa supported the president’s decisions regarding Blagojevich and Milken, but did not address Kerik’s pardon.

“President Trump has been consistent in supporting criminal justice reform,” the former congressman said, adding that Trump opposes “long, unnecessary sentences.”

Issa said he believed Blagojevich has been rehabilitated, is not a public threat and that his punishment served as a deterrent — a three-part litmus test Issa said should determine whether someone should remain in jail or be incarcerated in the first place.

“The president did not forgive him, he released him,” Issa said.

Like Trump, Issa noted that since Milken was released from prison years ago, he has contributed to charities and created a think tank. Milken is also a prostate cancer survivor and established the Prostate Cancer Foundation to seek a cure.

“The man has more than made up for it,” Issa said.