Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

Why subscribe? Note the kind words of one new paid subscriber, Jan: “I'm trying to pick smart people to follow after deciding that WaPO and NYT are not for me." And this from Larry: “You and your fellow Substackers are leaders in the Resistance. I want to help.”

---

Mercy, Redemption—and Cold Revenge

Reflecting on a compassionate day of clemency and an awful week that started with a cold-blooded murder

Steven Beschloss Dec 13

Our compassionate president. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Soon, mercy and redemption will be in exceedingly short supply in our national life. That’s why I was uplifted yesterday to learn about President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon 39 people convicted of non-violent crimes and commute the sentences of 1,499 others who were placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden said in a statement. “As President, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses.”

Among those receiving relief were a decorated military veteran who assists church members in poor health or are unable to perform strenuous tasks; a nurse who led emergency response for several natural disasters and vaccination efforts during the pandemic; and an addiction counselor who volunteers his time to motivate young people to make better choices and resist gang involvement. All of those pardoned committed non-violent offenses, a number of them drug-related.

This is the largest single-day act of clemency in our nation’s history. And the president said there were still more clemency petitions to review. Why do it? He said it’s “to advance equal justice under the law, promote public safety, support rehabilitation and reentry, and provide meaningful second chances.” The statement by the White House underscored that these acts of clemency make it easier for the recipients to obtain housing, jobs, education and health care—”all essential to living a healthy and productive life.”

Let’s remember this reasoning next month when a convicted felon occupies our White House again and pardons convicted criminals who participated in the violent insurrection at our nation’s Capitol. Let’s remember the notion of mercy and redemption when he claims these unrepentant felons did nothing wrong and were treated unfairly. Let’s remember this when some of these same people participate in subsequent acts of violence, empowered by this depraved, remorseless man who feeds on grievance, carnage and retribution.

And let’s also remember that this is not the first time the president used his pardon power for good. He issued a full pardon in 2022 for people convicted of simple possession of marijuana, later expanding that pardon to include other marijuana-related offenses. He also issued a full pardon earlier this year to military personnel and veterans who were convicted of an offense based on their sexual orientation.

This delivery of justice is a good reason for gratitude and relief after the terrible news that a man was murdered in cold blood at point blank range in midtown Manhattan last week, what the New York Police Department described as a "premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack.” That was awful enough, but when news came out that the victim was the CEO of United Healthcare, the response by too many was layered with the ugly sense that he got what he deserved—and, in some cases, outright glee over his killing.

I can reason through this response: Yes, the American healthcare system is badly broken, with millions saddled with significant medical debt and many of those suffering bankruptcy. Worse, many thousands of Americans have lost their lives because they were denied necessary treatment by private insurance companies. This is a world of grievance, pain and death that has literally destroyed lives. The leading executive of the nation’s largest health insurance company is an ultimate target for people’s feelings of powerlessness, frustration and fury over the deadly failures of our grievously unfair system.

But, to my surprise, it became necessary to argue that no one should condone murder—that a cold-blooded killing is not a reason for joy. Both the act itself and the arrest of the alleged murderer—who has had his own health problems—has inspired excited talk about vigilante justice and even praise for the killer as a folk hero. This chilling bandwagon has included tech reporter Taylor Lorenz, who said in a widely seen interview with Piers Morgan, “I felt, along with so many other Americans, joy, unfortunately.” She went on to say that CEO Brain Thompson “murdered” tens of thousands of people as a result of his company’s policies.

I understand the instinctive, feral impulse of an eye for an eye, returning evil with evil. There have been plenty of angry comments about the horrors resulting from companies like UnitedHealthcare, which made its CEO very rich. The fact that this alleged killer is young and handsome—and white and an Ivy League graduate—has intensified the excitement about his vicious attack. The etching of the words “delay, deny, depose” on the recovered bullet casings added to the allure for some. I can tell you that after I criticized the gleeful response to this murder on social media, I received plenty of angry replies, including some not-so-flippant remarks about the need to take out the guillotines to address our ills.

This is a fraught moment in our country. The election of Trump has unleashed deep and understandable anger (mine included). The terrible dread that things are going to get a lot worse—triggered particularly by the appallingly reckless and dangerous nominations by Trump—is stirring a boiling cauldron.

We have reason to worry that it will boil over, and not just among the MAGA crowd. The anger over Kamala Harris’ loss by those who voted for her will not dissipate. (My innocent online question about why the VP has been so silent in this time of need triggered a flood of outrage attacking me for daring to question her.) Pardoning Jan. 6 convicts, initiating deportations, cutting government programs that help working people, passing tax cuts to further enrich the wealthiest among us—all of this will further intensify the feeling the country has slipped off its axis and the self-serving oligarchs are determined to steal what we’ve devoted our lives to build. Talk by billionaires like Vivek Ramaswamy that his “government efficiency” co-chair Elon Musk taking “a chainsaw” to cutting people and programs is “going to be a lot of fun” surely exacerbates the danger.

While I hope most Americans will channel their anger productively into opposition that can limit the inevitable damage and suffering from this hostile takeover—supporting civil rights groups, supporting immigrant groups, demanding your elected officials to speak out and act, joining in demonstrations of resistance—the air has become awfully, terribly chilly. Conversations—not just between Democrats and Republicans but also amongst Democrats—have gotten harder, colder, meaner, angrier. And the toleration and even celebration of the murder of a hated corporate executive—not him personally, but what he represents—portends more bloodlust and dystopian outrage.

It’s our challenge in this moment to remember the need for basic human values, not the least of which is the preservation of life. The inauguration on Jan. 20—ending the presidency of a man who in words and deeds expresses the need for mercy and redemption—demands fierce opposition. But we still have the possibility to pull back from widespread violence leading to an increasingly cruel and unlivable society. That’s not just up to those in power: It’s up to each of us to decide how we want to live with each other and navigate this treacherous moment.

Please consider becoming a paid subscriber for $50 a year or just $5 a month, if you’re not already. This helps sustain and expand the work of America, America, keeps nearly all the content free for everyone and gives you full access to the comment sections. That has never been more important.

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Let the tax-relief lobbying begin (again)

View in browser   BY LISA KASHINSKY AND KELLY GARRITY PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook won’t publish Monday for Juneteenth. We’ll be back in your inboxes on Tuesday. PLAYING THE LONG GAME — Senators unanimously passed a roughly $590 million package of tax breaks last night that aims to boost housing production but excludes several business-friendly changes sought by the House and Gov. Maura Healey, teeing up another closed-door clash between chambers. It also sets off a new round of lobbying around cutting the short-term capital gains tax rate to 5 percent from 12 percent — a key component of both the House and Healey’s tax plans that the Senate skipped — and the “single sales factor apportionment” for corporate taxes that representatives approved but senators rejected. Business leaders didn’t push Senate President Karen Spilka too hard on either measure when she spoke at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event yesterday ahead of her own chamber’s tax debate. But they made clear they’re going to keep up the pressure in private as the tax plans head to the negotiating table. “We’ll work with people on the conference committee and make our feelings known,” Jim Rooney, the chamber’s president and CEO, told Playbook after the event. "We think that there's the capacity, as the House did, to embrace” both measures, he said. But Rooney also signaled that the business community is willing to play the long game. Business groups are likely to get one long-sought win after both legislative chambers passed measures to raise the estate-tax threshold to $2 million. Some senators have expressed openness to discussing the single sales factor down the line. And Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues raised the possibility of revisiting short-term capital gains changes in an interview with the State House News Service. Housing advocates are taking a similar approach to two housing-development programs that the senators want to expand. If the House doesn’t agree to additional funding for the Housing Development Incentive Program and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, advocates say they could get another shot at both in an upcoming housing bond bill. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute is asking lawmakers to hold off on pumping more money into HDIP until they tackle existing issues with the program, such as the unequal distribution of credits among Gateway Cities . The nonprofit is also urging lawmakers to consider building some mechanism to create affordable units into the program that’s designed to spur production of market-rate housing. Senators rejected an amendment to do so yesterday, but several signaled a willingness to revisit the idea at a different time. GOOD FRIDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF! TODAY — Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll are on “Java with Jimmy” starting at 9 a.m. (Driscoll goes first.) Healey is on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” at noon. Driscoll chairs a Governor’s Council on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking meeting at 1 p.m. in Lynnfield. Rep. Jim McGovern attends a Juneteenth flag raising at 5 p.m. at Worcester City Hall. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu attends a public housing event at 11:30 a.m. in Charlestown, the opening of the city’s “Slavery in Boston” exhibit at 1 p.m. at Faneuil Hall and the Embrace Ideas Juneteenth Block Party at 4 p.m. at RCC. THIS WEEKEND — MBTA GM Phil Eng is on WBZ’s “Keller @ Large” at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper is on WCVB’s “On the Record” at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tips? Scoops? Planning on lobbying the tax-relief conference committee? Email us: kgarrity@politico.com and lkashinsky@politico.com .   STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING : What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today .     DATELINE BEACON HILL — ASKING FOR CLEMENCY: Gov. Maura Healey is recommending pardoning seven people for decades-old crimes that range from arson to drug possession to assault, making her the first governor in more than three decades to propose pardons in the first year of their term. The pardons now go to the Governor’s Council for approval. Healey also pledged to “modernize” the state’s clemency process. Each governor gets to issue their own guidelines. The former attorney general said during a State House press conference that she wants to “center fairness and racial and gender equity” in hers. The group Healey first hopes to pardon includes a nurse, a social worker and a U.S. Army veteran. None are incarcerated. Only a few, including Glendon King and Terrance Williams , who appeared with Healey yesterday, still live in the state. And each were recommended for pardons by the Parole Board under former Gov. Charlie Baker . Healey is still considering one other holdover recommendation . Her office said it is not for Gerald Amirault and Cheryl Amirault LeFave , the siblings convicted in a high-profile child sexual abuse case who Baker controversially moved to pardon toward the end of his second term but later withdrew . The governor also vowed as a candidate that she would pardon those convicted of simple marijuana possession , but has yet to do so. “We need to do so in a way that legally makes sense,” Healey said yesterday. “We don’t want anybody to be set back, held back, from housing, from employment, from school because of a simple marijuana possession violation.” More from the Boston Globe’s Matt Stout and GBH’s Katie Lannan Governor Maura Healey announces she is recommending seven individuals for pardons to the Governor’s Council at the State House on June 15, 2023. | Joshua Qualls/Governor’s Press Office — TODAY’S SPECIAL: Senators approved Nov. 7 as the date for the special election to fill the seat Anne Gobi vacated to become Healey’s rural affairs director. That would make the primary Oct. 10 . — CHEEKY PROTEST: Eight members of the climate group Extinction Rebellion were arrested and escorted from the Senate gallery yesterday, after the pink-thong-clad protesters bared what they called their own “natural gas infrastructure” to send a message to lawmakers (scrawled across their bottoms) to “stop passing gas” — in this case, fossil fuel infrastructure. Each is charged with trespassing on state property, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure, state police said. Extinction Rebellion protesters have already faced arrest this year for staging a sit-in at the governor’s office (when she wasn’t there) and disrupting a joint session. — “Spilka outlines a different vision of competitiveness,” by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Where [other] groups to one degree or another prioritized tax cuts designed to keep wealthy residents from fleeing the state, [Senate President Karen] Spilka said the real problem is 26- to 35-year-olds who are struggling to live here because of the high cost of housing, health care, and higher education.” FROM THE HUB — “Boston’s new district map likely to stand, attorneys indicate,” by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: “Boston’s new political map looks most likely to stand, leaving the city on schedule for its elections this fall, after the attorneys who sued to block an earlier set of the boundaries indicated Thursday that they are 'unlikely' to try to obstruct the latest attempt." — “Boston City Council’s cut to veterans’ office sparks outcry,” by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: “The City Council’s decision to cut $900,000 from the veterans’ services budget has prompted an outcry from across the country, council President Ed Flynn said.” — “Advocacy group calls for exhibit on slavery to be moved from Faneuil Hall, named for a slaveowner,” by Laura Haefeli, WBZ.   SUBSCRIBE TO POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don’t miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY .     THE RACE FOR CITY HALL — “At-large update: Incumbents fill up war chests as challengers make ballot,” by Gintautas Dumcius, Dorchester Reporter: “The field of at-large City Council candidates stands at eight, as the four incumbents run for another two-year term and four challengers look to knock them out of a spot.” — “City Councilor Karen Kalinowsky is running for mayor of Pittsfield,” by Meg Britton-Mehlisch, Berkshire Eagle: “Citing her frustration with the recent budget process, City Councilor Karen Kalinowsky said Thursday she is joining the race for mayor.” DAY IN COURT — “Jack Teixeira, Air National Guardsman accused of leaking military secrets, indicted on new charges,” by Shelley Murphy and Tonya Alanez, Boston Globe: “Jack D. Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking top secret information on the Internet, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Boston on six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, court filings show. The indictment comes two months after Teixeira, 21, of Dighton, was arrested on a criminal complaint filed by prosecutors.” — “Two from Worcester charged in Capitol riot; recorded themselves in building,” by Craig S. Semon, Telegram & Gazette: “Julie Miller, also known as Hong Ngo, 51, and Long Duong, also known as Jimmy Hoang Duong, 54, were taken into custody after an arrest warrant was issued Monday by a federal court in Washington." FROM THE DELEGATION — “ US senators urge regulator to change guidance on Massachusetts auto law,” by David Shepardson, Reuters: “[Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey] on Thursday urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reconsider its decision to tell automakers not to comply with a recently effective Massachusetts state ‘right to repair’ law designed to allow customers access to vehicle data.” — “Sherrod Brown, Tim Scott float tougher bank CEO penalties after Warren rift,” by Eleanor Mueller, POLITICO. FROM THE 413 — “State puts Southampton immigrant facility on hold,” by The Daily Hampshire Gazette: “State officials have determined that the cost of operating a temporary processing facility for legal immigrant families and other displaced people at a former Harley-Davidson dealership would be prohibitive and have put plans on ‘indefinite pause.’” THE LOCAL ANGLE — “With no state oversight, Mass. medical school morgues are vulnerable to black market for bodies,” by Ally Jarmanning and Walter Wuthmann, WBUR: “Medical school morgues — like the one at Harvard where a manager is accused of stealing and selling body parts for tens of thousands of dollars — face no state oversight in Massachusetts, state officials said Thursday." — “Somerville dedicates funds for a supervised consumption facility,” by Martha Bebinger, WBUR: “Somerville has approved most of the money needed for a mobile clinic where people using drugs could be monitored and revived if they overdose.” REGIONAL ROUNDUP — “R.I. official resigns amid scandal over racist, sexist comments made in Philadelphia,” by Edward Fitzpatrick, Boston Globe: “David Patten, the state official accused of making a series of racist, sexist comments during a business trip to Philadelphia, resigned Thursday evening. Patten’s resignation as director of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance in the state Department of Administration comes amid national coverage and mounting criticism of Governor Daniel J. McKee’s administration over the incident. Patten wrote that his resignation becomes effective June 30.” — “Several NH mayors, police chiefs say it’s time to give undocumented immigrants access to IDs,” by Gabriela Lozada, NHPR. MEDIA MATTERS — “Bloomberg cancels local ‘Baystate Business’ radio show, lays off hosts,” by Larry Edelman, Boston Globe. HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Maura Hogan joins Seven Letter’s Boston office as senior director. — Kristin Kelleher is now New England director of public affairs at Equinor. She most recently was stakeholder engagement manager for Beacon Wind at Equinor. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to POLITICO’s Madison Fernandez, Tom Fleming, the Boston Herald’s Mac Cerullo , MassINC’s Richard Parr, Nicholas McCool and Bill Shaner . HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND — to CBS News reporter Nicole Sganga, state Rep. Aaron Saunders and Maxwell Nunes, who celebrate Saturday; to Steph Evans, Rick Cappellazzo, Sarah Anders, Marlborough City Councilor and mayoral candidate Samantha Perlman and Ravi Simon, who celebrate Sunday; and to Monday birthday-ers DPH Media Relations Director Ann Scales , Sen. Ed Markey campaign alum and the AFL-CIO’s Liz Vlock, Galen Clark  and HubSpot’s Katie Burke . NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: IT’S NOT EASY BANKING GREEN — Boston Globe climate reporter Sabrina Shankman joins to talk about Gov. Maura Healey ’s new “green bank” for affordable housing. Hosts Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky discuss whether former President Donald Trump ’s latest indictment is affecting his third White House bid. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud . Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com .   Follow us on Twitter Lisa Kashinsky @lisakashinsky   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters FOLLOW US

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

 

 

JUST A REMINDER!

Donald Trump grants clemency to 144 people (not himself or family members) in final hours

Kevin JohnsonDavid JacksonDennis Wagner

USA TODAY

Published Jan 20,2021 

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly used his clemency authority as a political tool rather than an act of mercy, issued a final wave of pardons and commutations during his final hours in office, delivering relief for a mix of beneficiaries that included former strategist Steve Bannon, Republican Party and Trump fundraiser Elliott Broidy and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, found guilty in 2013 of corruption charges.

He granted pardons to 73 people and commuted the sentences of 70, according to a news release from the White House on Wednesday, before he pardoned one more roughly an hour before Joe Biden was sworn in as the new president.

After Trump landed in Florida on Air Force one, skipping the inauguration, he announced a pardon for the ex-husband of Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro. Albert Pirro, a former real estate associate of Trump's, was convicted on conspiracy and tax evasion charges.

Several other high-profile figures received pardons, including:

• Former Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., convicted in 2013 of extortion, bribery, insurance fraud, money laundering and racketeering. Renzi left prison in 2017.
• Former Rep. Randall “Duke” Cunningham, R-Calif., who was released from prison in 2013 after serving eight years for charges of bribery, fraud and tax evasion.
• Dwayne Michael Carter, the rapper known as Lil Wayne, who pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
• Broidy, who pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent and accepting money from Chinese and Malaysian interests to lobby the Trump administration.
• Bannon, who awaited trial in Manhattan on federal fraud charges tied to a border wall fundraising effort.

Trump and Bannon have had an up-and-down relationship since the provocative adviser left the White House in 2017. Trump banished Bannon from his inner circle, claiming he was a source of a critical book about the president, but Bannon still worked as a prominent backer of Trump's 2020 reelection campaign.

Pardons follow intense lobbying 

For weeks, political allies, defense attorneys and others staged an intense lobbying campaign, urging Trump to act on behalf of their clients.

The list was released around 1 a.m. Wednesday, about 11 hours before the end of Trump's term.

Soon after, at 1:07 a.m. EST, Trump issued an executive order revoking an ethics rule he authorized in 2017. The move frees former aides from restrictions on lobbying the government.

Trump intervened in the case of rapper Bill Kapri, also known as Kodak Black. The president commuted a 46-month sentence for lying on a background check related to a gun purchase.

Robert Zangrillo, a Miami real estate developer who was part of the college entrance scandal, received a full pardon. He was accused of conspiring with a college consultant to bribe officials at the University of Southern California to designate his daughter as a recruit to the crew team.

Paul Erickson, the former boyfriend of Russian operative Maria Butina, also received a pardon. He was sentenced last year to 84 months in prison on charges of wire fraud and money laundering.

Among the white-collar offenders, Trump commuted the sentence of Sholam Weiss, convicted in a $450 million mortgage and insurance fraud scheme. He had been sentenced to 835 years after jumping bail.

Weiss was captured in Austria in 2000. His case was supported by Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and Trump attorney Jay Sekulow. Weiss had been scheduled for release in 2738.

Kenneth Kurson was granted a full pardon in a cyberstalking case. He is a longtime friend and associate of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney.

The case involves charges that Kurson cyberstalked and harassed his ex-wife and two other people, according to the federal criminal complaint. The allegations came to light when Kurson underwent an FBI background check for a potential appointment by Trump.

While serving as editor of The New York Observer in 2016, Kurson consulted with Trump and Kushner about a speech Trump gave to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential political organization. The intervention came as Trump campaigned for the White House. Kushner was the publisher of the weekly paper, which is now an online-only publication.

Who didn't get pardoned? Trump family, rioters

The list is also notable for who isn't on it: the president himself, his family and Giuliani.

In the final weeks of his presidency, some had speculated Trump would issue preemptive clemency to shield his family and lawyer from legal vulnerability. Federal authorities have been investigating Giuliani and his business dealings in Ukraine.

Also not on the list were Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder indicted in 2019 on espionage charges, and Edward Snowden, the fugitive American who leaked secret files revealing vast surveillance operations carried out by the U.S. National Security Agency.

Lawmakers had asked Trump not to pardon Assange and Snowden.

Trump talked to aides about preemptive pardons for Republican lawmakers and others involved in planning the protests Jan. 6 who might face legal problems, an aide said. White House officials talked Trump out of granting pardons connected to the riots.

Last-minute pardons, including disputed ones, are something of a tradition for outgoing presidents.

As he left office in 2001, President Bill Clinton pardoned fugitive financier Marc Rich in a move some analysts tied to financial contributions.

In late 1992, his term soon to expire, President George H.W. Bush pardoned aides involved in the Iran-contra scandal.

The list of pardons included some who 'turned their pain into purpose' 

Though many of Trump's pardons and commutations went to political allies and high-profile criminals, others were doled out to relatively unknown figures, including some who had backing from advocates for change in the justice system.  

Among those was Amy Povah, who received a pardon from Trump after having her prison sentence commuted in 2000 by Clinton. Povah, who served nine years of a 24-year sentence in connection with offenses involving the drug ecstasy, became founder of CAN-Do (Calling for All Nonviolent Drug Offenders) Foundation. The pardon record describes her as “a voice for the incarcerated, a champion for criminal justice reform.” 

Syrita Steib-Martin received a full pardon erasing her conviction, at age 19, for using fire during commission of a felony. After serving 10 years, Steib-Martin founded Operation Restoration to help female convicts make the transition out of prison. 

A third individual, Lou Hobbs, had his sentence commuted by Trump after serving 24 months of a life term for a nonviolent drug offense. 

Louis Reed, director of national organizing for Dream Corps, a group pushing for criminal justice changes, said he was ecstatic to see Hobbs gain redemption because the two men served time together at a federal penitentiary in New York.  

Reed, who had petitioned for a pardon, said his disappointment in being turned down “pales in comparison to the level of excitement and optimism I have because as one rises we all rise.” 

Reed described Hobbs as an inspirational Christian and self-help teacher behind bars. He said Hobbs, as well as Povah and Steib-Martin, have been “models of positivity” and deserve the relief granted by Trump.  

“They turned their pain into purpose,” he said. 

The 74 pardons and 70 commutations were granted to a cross-section of Americans that included Lavonne Roach, a Lakota Sioux woman who lived through a cycle of abuse and drug addiction that led her to participate in a methamphetamine distribution scheme, according to a summary of her case published by a New York University Law School study that examined clemency candidates who had been passed over. 

Roach was sentenced in 1998 to 30 years in federal prison, said the study, which classified her as one of thousands of nonviolent drug offenders worthy of clemency. 

In prison, she enrolled in a drug treatment program, completed thousands of hours of educational programs, took business-related courses and completed a two-year paralegal program. Roach, 56, was scheduled to be released in July 2023. Trump commuted her sentence.

Another convict, Michael Pelletier, was sentenced to life without parole in 2008 for conspiring to import and distribute marijuana. The NYU study said he used marijuana to cope with the pain and stress of a tractor accident at age 11 that left him paralyzed from the waist down, the study said. 

Pelletier, 64, was the only defendant in his case sentenced to life behind bars. He opted to go to trial while the others reached plea deals for lesser sentences, the study said. 

Using oil painting as an outlet, Pelletier was certified by the federal Bureau of Prisons to teach art to other inmates. His sentence was commuted.

Reed, the Dream Corps activist, declined to question whether Trump may have selected some deserving individuals for clemency to dampen the impact of pardons issued to political cronies.

“If he did the right thing for the wrong reasons, that’s something he’ll have to be answerable for at a later date,” Reed said.     

Trump's previous pardons: Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, others

Before the last round of pardons, Trump granted clemency to more than 90 people, including allies and former aides involved in the investigation of Russian election interference during the 2016 election.

That group includes Paul Manafort, a Trump campaign manager in 2016 who was convicted of defrauding banks; George Papadopoulos, a former campaign aide who admitted lying to the FBI; and Michael Flynn, a retired Army general who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials.

Trump commuted the sentence of longtime political adviser Roger Stone days before he was set to report to prison after he was convicted of lying to Congress and obstructing the Russia investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Among other pardons: Charles Kushner, the father of presidential son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner. The elder Kushner was convicted of preparing false tax returns and witness retaliation.

Pardons were granted to two former representatives who were early supporters of Trump's presidential bid: Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who pleaded guilty to misusing campaign funds; and Chris Collins, R-N.Y., who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to commit securities fraud.

In many cases, Trump did not work with the pardons office at the Department of Justice but took action on his own based on requests by lobbyists to him and his top aides.

Legal analysts said Trump turned the presidential pardon power into a personal project designed to reward friends and political supporters.

Full list of Trump pardons on Jan. 20:

• Todd Boulanger, full pardon of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud
• Abel Holtz, full pardon of impeding a grand jury investigation
• Rick Renzi, full pardon to representative from Arizona convicted of extortion, bribery, insurance fraud, money laundering and racketeering
• Kenneth Kurson, full pardon of cyberstalking
• Casey Urlacher, full pardon of sports betting case
• Carl Andrews Boggs, full pardon of two counts to corruption
• James Johnson, full pardon to charges of illegal hunting of wildlife birds
• Tommaso Buti, full pardon of financial fraud involving his restaurant chain
• Glen Moss, full pardon of health care fraud
• Anthony Levandowski, full pardon of stealing trade secrets from Google
• Aviem Sella, full pardon of espionage
• Michael Liberty, full pardon of campaign finance violations
• Greg Reyes, full pardon of securities fraud
• Jeffrey Alan Conway, full pardon of financial reporting fraud
• Benedict Olberding, full pardon of bank fraud
• Syrita Steib-Martin, full pardon of the use of fire to commit a felony
• Eric Wesley Patton, full pardon of making a false statement on a mortgage application
• Robert William Cawthon, full pardon of making a false statement on a bank loan application
• Hal Knudson Mergler, full pardon of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of LSD
• Gary Evan Hendler, full pardon of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances
•  John Harold Wall, full pardon of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Steven Samuel Grantham, full pardon of stealing a vehicle
• Clarence Olin Freeman, full pardon of operating an illegal whiskey still
• Fred Keith Alford, full pardon of a firearm violation
• Alex Adjmi, full pardon of financial crime
• Elliott Broidy, full pardon of conspiracy to serve as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal
• Stephen K. Bannon, full pardon of charges related to fraud stemming from his involvement in a political project
• Douglas Jemal, full pardon of fraud
• Dr. Scott Harkonen, full pardon of fraud based on a misleading caption in a news release with respect to a treatment for a disease
• Johnny Phillips, full pardon of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud
• Dr. Mahmoud Reza Banki, full pardon of monetary violations of Iranian sanctions and making false statements
• John Nystrom, full pardon of failure to alert authorities to double payments of subcontractors
• Gregory Jorgensen, Deborah Jorgensen, Martin Jorgensen, full pardons of knowingly selling misbranded beef
• Jessica Frease, full pardon of converting stolen checks and negotiating them through the bank where she worked as a teller
• Robert Cannon “Robin” Hayes, full pardon of making a false statement in the course of a Federal investigation
• Thomas Kenton “Ken” Ford, full pardon of making material misstatements to Federal mining officials
• Jon Harder, full pardon of misusing investment funds during the real estate crisis
• Scott Conor Crosby, full pardon of intent to commit a bank robbery
• Lynn Barney, full pardon of possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon and having distributed a small amount of marijuana
• Joshua Smith, full pardon of conspiracy to possess drugs with intent to distribute
• Amy Povah, full pardon of a drug offense
• Dr. Frederick Nahas, full pardon of obstructing justice in a health care investigation
• David Tamman, full pardon of doctoring financial documents that were the subject of a federal investigation
• Dr. Faustino Bernadett, full pardon of failure to report a hospital kickback scheme of which he became aware
• Paul Erickson, full pardon of attempting to develop a back channel between the NRA and Russian government
• Todd Farha, Thaddeus Bereday, William Kale, Paul Behrens, Peter Clay, full pardons for false statements to the Florida Medicaid program
• David Rowland, full pardon of removing asbestos in elementary school without proper licensing
• Randall “Duke” Cunningham, conditional pardon of accepting bribes while he held public office
• Dwayne Michael Carter (Lil Wayne), full pardon of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon
• Stephen Odzer, conditional pardon of conspiracy and bank fraud
• Steven Benjamin Floyd, full pardon of one count of bank robbery by extortion
• Joey Hancock, full pardon of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
• David Miller, full pardon of making a false statement to a bank
• James Austin Hayes, full pardon of conspiracy to commit insider trading
• Drew Brownstein, full pardon of insider trading
• Robert Bowker, full pardon of illegally wildlife trafficking 22 snakes owned by Rudy “Cobra King” Komarek to be transported to the Miami Serpentarium
• Amir Khan, full pardon of wire fraud
• Patrick Lee Swisher, full pardon of tax fraud and making false statements
• Robert Sherrill, full pardon of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine
• Dr. Robert Corkern, full pardon of federal program bribery
• David Lamar Clanton, full pardon of making false statements and related charges
• George Gilmore, full pardon of failure to pay payroll taxes and making false statements
• Desiree Perez, full pardon of a conspiracy to distribute narcotics
• Robert “Bob” Zangrillo, full pardon of involvement in the “Varsity Blues” investigation, a high-profile college admissions fraud scandal
• Hillel Nahmad, full pardon of a sports gambling offense
• Brian McSwain, full pardon of a drug crime
• John Duncan Fordham, full pardon of health care fraud
• William “Ed” Henry, full pardon of aiding and abetting the theft of government property

Full list of sentences Trump commuted Jan. 20:

• Jaime Davidson, commuted sentence of life imprisonment in relation to the murder of an undercover officer
• Bill Kapri (Kodak Black), commuted sentence for making a false statement on a Federal document
• Jawad Musa, commuted sentence of life imprisonment for a nonviolent, drug-related offense
• Adriana Shayota, commuted sentence for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, commit copyright infringement and introduce misbranded food into interstate commerce
• Ferrell Damon Scott, commuted sentence for life imprisonment sentence for possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• Jerry Donnell Walden, commuted sentence for intent to distribute cocaine
• Michael Ashley, commuted sentence of bank fraud
• Lou Hobbs, commuted sentence
• Matthew Antoine Canady, commuted sentence for drug-related convictions
• Mario Claiborne, commuted sentence for leading drug-related business conspiracy in Chicago
• Rodney Nakia Gibson, commuted sentence for trafficking drugs
• Tom Leroy Whitehurst, commuted sentence for conspiracy to manufacture at least 16.7 kilograms of methamphetamine and possession of numerous firearms
• Monstsho Eugene Vernon, commuted sentence for committing a string of armed bank robberies
• Luis Fernando Sicard, commuted sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
• DeWayne Phelps, commuted sentence for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine
• Isaac Nelson, commuted sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine
• Traie Tavares Kelly, commuted sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine
• Javier Gonzales, commuted sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine
• John Knock, commuted sentence for a first-time, nonviolent marijuana-only offender
• Kenneth Charles Fragoso, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Luis Gonzalez, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Anthony DeJohn, commuted sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana
• Corvain Cooper, commuted sentence for nonviolent participation in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana
• Way Quoe Long, commuted sentence for nonviolent conviction for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana
• Michael Pelletier, commuted sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana
• Craig Cesal, commuted sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana
• Darrell Frazier, commuted sentence for intent to distribute cocaine
• Lavonne Roach, commuted sentence for nonviolent drug charges
• Blanca Virgen, commuted sentence for intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Robert Francis, commuted sentence for nonviolent drug conspiracy charges
• Brian Simmons, commuted sentence for nonviolent conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana
• Derrick Smith, commuted sentence for distribution of drugs to a companion who passed away
• Raymond Hersman, commuted sentence for distribution of methamphetamine
• David Barren, commuted sentence for nonviolent drug conspiracy charge
• James Romans, commuted sentence for involvement in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
• Jonathon Braun, commuted sentence for conspiracy to import marijuana and to commit money laundering
• Michael Harris, commuted sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder
• Kyle Kimoto, commuted sentence for nonviolent telemarketing fraud scheme
• Chalana McFarland, commuted sentence of money laundering, bank and wire fraud and other financial crimes
• Eliyahu Weinstein, commuted sentence of real estate investment fraud
• John Estin Davis, commuted sentence for serving as chief executive officer of a health care company with a financial conflict of interest
• Noah Kleinman, commuted sentence for a nonviolent crime to distribute marijuana
• Tena Logan, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• MaryAnne Locke, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• April Coots, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Caroline Yeats, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Jodi Lynn Richter, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Kristina Bohnenkamp, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Mary Roberts, commuted sentence for nonviolent drug offense
• Cassandra Ann Kasowski, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Lerna Lea Paulson, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Ann Butler, commuted sentence for a non-violent drug offense
• Sydney Navarro, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Tara Perry, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• Jon Harder, commuted sentence for misusing investment funds during the real estate crisis
• Chris Young, commuted sentence for role in a drug conspiracy
• Adrianne Miller, commuted sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a list I chemical.
• Kwame Kilpatrick, commuted sentence for racketeering and bribery scheme while he held public office
• Fred “Dave” Clark, commuted sentence for a nonviolent drug offense
• William Walters, commuted sentence for insider trading
• James Brian Cruz, commuted sentence for a drug crime
• Shalom Weiss, commuted sentence for racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice
• Salomon Melgen, commuted sentence for health care fraud and false statements