Trump begins pre-departure pardons, including 2 people part of the Russia investigation – By Kathryn Watson (CBS News) / Dec 22 2020
President Trump has begun granting pardons in his final days in office, including pardons for former congressmen Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins, as well as former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos and Alex van der Zwaan, convicted as a part of the Russia investigation.
They were four of the 15 pardons the White House announced Tuesday night, as the president weighs pardons for allies and strangers alike in the final days of his term as commander in chief.
Collins was the first member of the House to endorse Mr. Trump, and had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and lying to law enforcement officials over an illegal stock tip he gave his son. Hunter pleaded guilty to misusing campaign funds, including to pay for vacations, and claimed the whole thing was a “witch hunt.”
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about contacts he had with Russian agents while he was on the Trump campaign’s payroll. Van der Zwaan pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to investigators regarding questions of Russian interference.
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