WASHINGTON – President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, played a key role in managing the avalanche of clemency requests that reached the White House when the government nears its end next month, according to several sources.
With the holiday approaching, Trump has issued 65 pardons and commutations since Tuesday, including many who have erased their allies’ convictions and sentences, and more are expected in the coming days.
“Everyone is sending emails to Jared,” said a source familiar with the process. “If you want to make something happen, go to Jared.”
The source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the ongoing process, spoke to Yahoo News on Monday, before Trump issued a wave of pardons and commutations. They predicted the onslaught of pardons.
“It will be a MMA,” said the source.
They went on to claim that Kushner was “taking points” and tracking people who asked for clemency. “It will let you know where you are,” said the source. “Whoever will be forgiven and reach the top of the list is one who has representatives, employees or advisers who are loyal to the president.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment. A second source familiar with the pardons said they “technically believe that pardons and clemency were under Jared Kushner in the White House”.
A recipient of the pardon was Kushner’s own father, Charles, a real estate developer who was convicted in 2005 on charges related to illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion and tampering with witnesses that resulted from an extortion plan in which he hired a woman to seduce and blackmail your brother – in law. Pardons also went to former members of Trump’s presidential campaign who were embroiled in investigations into his presidential candidacy, including Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign president and longtime adviser Roger Stone.
Other pardons were granted to people whose requests were supported by the president’s allies. According to the White House statement, some of the recipients of forgiveness had their cases supported by pro-Trump members of Congress. A former Border Patrol agent who was convicted of violating the civil rights of an immigrant who tried to cross the United States from Mexico had his request supported by pro-Trump cable news personalities, Laura Ingraham and Lou Dobbs.
A White House source who requested anonymity to discuss internal affairs denied that Kushner played any role in tracking pardons or guiding the general process.
“It’s completely untrue,” said a White House source. “The process is being conducted by the White House council.”
White House lawyer Pat Cipollone did not respond to requests for comment.
Kushner also played a leading role in the White House’s criminal justice reform efforts, which included passing legislation and pardoning individuals whose cases were highlighted by defenders. Kushner spent part of this week in Israel and Morocco. The White House source said Kushner’s role in pardons was limited to being aware of these cases and supporting his father’s efforts. They also noted that Kushner received requests from people seeking forgiveness and his supporters.
“He obviously led criminal justice reform efforts and supported his father’s case,” said a White House source. “He also received emails and requests from people, but he is in no way executing or tracking this process.”
The constitution gives the president “the unique power to grant extensions and pardons for offenses against the United States”. Each president granted pardons. Over the years, there have been several controversies involving political allies who received them, especially towards the end of an outgoing president’s term. According to Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith, only five of the 65 pardons Trump issued on Tuesday and Wednesday were recommended by the Justice Department’s pardon lawyer.
Several people who received pardons and commutations in the pre-holiday lot were supported by advocates of criminal justice reform. One of them was Weldon Angelos, a former music producer who was sentenced to 55 years in 2002 for possession of marijuana and firearms. Angelos’ sentence resulted from mandatory minimums and was criticized as especially harsh, even by the judge in his case.
After being released from prison in 2016, Angelos became an advocate for criminal justice reform. The White House said its pardon was supported by a group that included two important Trump allies in Congress, Sens. Mike Lee and Rand Paul, as well as Alice Johnson, a former criminal who became an advocate for criminal justice reform after Trump commuted his sentence in 2018.
Johnson was released after reality show star Kim Kardashian met with Trump to beg for his release. Kushner and his wife, the daughter of President Ivanka, helped organize the meeting.
Angelos described forgiveness as life-changing and said it would help him with basic tasks, including getting a job and renting an apartment. He also said that Kushner played a key role.
“Jared Kushner’s office is taking care of that,” said Angelos, adding, “Most of my communication was with Jared’s team.”
Angelos said there will be additional pardons from Trump, including for many individuals whose cases have been defended by criminal justice reform advocates.
“I know there’s more to come, too,” he said. “There will be many worthy people receiving relief.”
Yahoo News contacted more than a dozen other recipients of pardons, or sponsors of individuals seeking clemency, to ask about the process. Most could not be contacted or did not respond.
Roger Stone, Trump’s longtime adviser, responded with an email refusing to comment and publicizing media coverage of his case.
“Although I am virtually bankrupt, my Legal Defense Fund has a substantial budget to file lawsuits against reporters and editors who defame,” he said.
Duncan Hunter, a former California Republican congressman convicted of using campaign contributions for personal expenses, declined to discuss his case. He received Trump’s total forgiveness.
“I am not giving an interview. Merry Christmas, ”Hunter said before hanging up.
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