Trump Plans to Take ‘A Look’ at Pardons for Those Convicted In Whitmer Kidnapping Plot
President has been issuing clemency recently for various high-profile criminals
Donald Trump’s been on something of a roll with presidential pardons for high-profile criminals in recent days, and he’s said that he might extend that string with a vow to “look at” clemency for several of those convicted in connection with the plot to kidnap the Democratic governor of Michigan.
A number of men were sent to prison for federal crimes for their involvement in a 2020 plan to abduct Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer could be pardoned by Trump.
Others charged with state crimes could not be pardoned by the president, however.
The FBI thwarted the kidnapping attempt by a group of men, a number of whom were associated with a paramilitary militia group that called themselves the Wolverine Watchmen.
They targeted Whitmer for her lockdown and stay-at-home orders during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The perpetrators are spending lengthy stints in prison, as long as nearly 20 years.
Trump, however, may be on the verge of voiding those sentences and sending the men free.
This comes on the heels of his promise to pardon reality TV stars Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley after the couple was convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion. He shared the news with their daughter Savannah Tuesday.
The Chrisleys had been known for their popular and long-running television series before their legal troubles surfaced.
The ability of a president of the United States to issue pardons is one of the few powers of the office which is essentially unlimited.
A president, however, only can pardon federal crimes, not state or local ones.
Trump was asked about pardons in the Whitmer case Wednesday by a reporter at the White House.
He replied with baseless accusations about the prosecution of the case.
“I’m going to look at it. I will take a look at it. It’s been brought to my attention,” Trump said. “I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job. I’ll be honest with you, it looked to me like some people said some stupid things. You know, they were drinking and I think they said stupid things, but I’ll take a look at that and lot of people are asking me that question from both sides, actually.
“Lot of people think they got railroaded. Lot of people think they got railroaded. And there are probably some people that don’t.”
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