Trump issues sweeping pardons to former New York Mayor Giuliani, ex-chief of staff, others in 2020 election probe

By Gizem Nisa Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump has granted “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon” to several of his closest allies involved in attempts to overturn the 2020 election results – a race he lost to former President Joe Biden – said an official statement.

A Justice Department statement posted late Sunday on US social media company X listed prominent figures, including Trump’s former lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, attorney Sidney Powell, and ex–White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, among dozens of others.

“This proclamation ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election and continues the process of national reconciliation,” the statement said.

However, Trump’s latest round of pardons, following previous ones such as pardons of all the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rioters, including those convicted of violently attacking police officers, seems likely to attract further controversy from Democrats and others, including charges that he is manipulating the justice system to reward his friends and punish his enemies.

The proclamation, dated Nov. 7, specified that the pardons apply only to federal charges and “do not apply to President Trump himself,” who as president is normally exempt from prosecution during his term in office.

Several recipients had faced criminal cases in the Southern state of Georgia over efforts to subvert the election outcome.

CNN reported that the White House and the office of Ed Martin, the department’s pardon attorney, have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The move follows Trump’s earlier clemency grants last week, including for a retired New York City police officer convicted of stalking on behalf of China and former baseball star Darryl Strawberry, who faced a 1995 tax evasion charge.