President Donald Trump has pardoned two Republican politicians, reality show stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, and several other figures.
Former Connecticut Governor John Rowland and former New York Congressman Michael Gerard Grimm, both Republicans, were pardoned.
Rowland, who served as governor from 1995 to 2004, was found guilty in 2014 of “seven counts of an indictment related to his efforts to conceal the extent of his involvement in two federal election campaigns,” the Department of Justice said at the time.
During the 2009 and 2010 election cycle, Rowland allegedly “drafted a sham consulting contract pursuant to which he would purportedly perform work for a separate corporate entity owned by the candidate.” Between 2011 and 2012, Rowland received $35,000 for services supporting Lisa Wilson-Foley’s campaign for a seat in the House of Representatives. “The payments originated with Foley and constituted campaign contributions, but were not reported to the FEC in violation of federal campaign finance laws,” the DOJ said.
In 2014, Grimm pleaded guilty to “aiding and assisting the preparation of a false tax return.”
Trump also pardoned U.S. Army officer Mark Bashaw, who was convicted by a military court martial after refusing to comply with COVID-19 policies.
Upon announcing the pardons for Todd and Julie Chrisley, Trump told their adult children, Savannah and Chase, “It’s a terrible thing, but it’s a great thing, because your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope we can do it by tomorrow. Is that OK? We’ll try getting it done tomorrow.”
“This pardon corrects a deep injustice and restores two devoted parents to their family and community,” the Chrisleys’ lawyer, Alex Little, said. “President Trump recognized what we’ve argued from the beginning: Todd and Julie were targeted because of their conservative values and high profile. Their prosecution was tainted by multiple constitutional violations and political bias.”
