Donald Trump is offering controversial new apologies to his friends

Sylvie LANTEAUME
France Media Agency

The White House unveiled a list of nearly thirty apologies and other apology actions this evening.

Beneficiaries of this favor include Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s former campaign manager in 2016, and his former adviser Roger Stone: two people investigating Russia’s interference in the U.S. presidential election. Elected.

“Mr. President, my family and I humbly thank you for this presidential grace. Words are not enough to express our gratitude,” Paul Manafort was quoted as saying on Twitter.

He faces up to seven and a half years in prison for various scams uncovered as part of prosecutor M ముller’s investigation, which led to a two-year investigation between Russia and the Trump team. Paul Manafort was placed under house arrest in May due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Last July, the Republican president sentenced his longtime friend Mr Stone to life in prison for trying to influence witnesses and lying to Congress as part of a Russian investigation.

“Criminal gang”

Donald Trump has been accused of abusing his right to apologize once again: in late November, he had already apologized to his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

“Trump has apologized from one gang to another,” Texas Democrat-elected official Lloyd Daggett said on Twitter.

Jared Kushner’s father, his younger son – in – law and mentor are also on the list published by the U.S. executive. Charles Kushner was convicted in 2004 of tax evasion.

“Everyone had a stink of apologies and acts of kindness for Donald Trump’s tools and allies. This is not surprising news. But the scene is still spinning. And it’s far away!”

The U.S. president announced on Tuesday evening fifteen apologies and five other positive actions that could benefit four former agents of Blackwater, a sulfur private security company convicted in the 2007 killing of 14 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.

They were convicted of firing machine guns and throwing grenades at a Baghdad intersection, which they returned in armed vehicles, which provoked outrage around the carnage worldwide.

An Iraqi police officer investigating a shooting in Baghdad has expressed outrage. “It reminds me of yesterday,” Fares Saadi told AFP. “I know we can not see justice.”

The White House says four ex-servicemen have a “long history of service to the country.”

“I do not know if he can do anything, but he’s abusive, biased and repulsive!” Democratic Senator Chris van Holen condemned.

“All this makes me want to vomit,” said former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, who sits on the Armed Forces Committee of the Upper House. “This kindness is unspeakably disrespectful to our army.”

Obedience above all else

The Blackwater organization, which has since disappeared, was founded by Eric Prince, one of Donald Trump’s strongest supporters, and the brother of Education Minister Betsy Divos.

For anti-corruption group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), “Trump’s message is clear: justice does not apply to you if you obey it.”

Before Donald Trump leaves the White House in January, the American Press reports that he will grant a pardon to his children, his son – in – law Jared Kushner and his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

The billionaire also raised the possibility of forgiving himself for crimes that could be prosecuted in relation to his orders. In 2018, he had an “absolute right” to take this measure, which is an example.