Trump Issues Final Pardons, Commutations of his Presidency

As part of his final day in office, former President Trump granted a total of 143 pardons and commutations. A large majority of them were granted to individuals supported by criminal justice reform advocates, as well as those serving lengthy sentences for low-level offenses. But as expected, there were some controversial picks. The most notable includes that of Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon. There was reportedly much debate over whether to pardon Bannon or not after he recently plead not guilty to defrauding donors through a “We Build the Wall” fundraising campaign. Another pardon was granted to rapper Lil Wayne for a gun possession charge. A second rapper, Kodak Black, received a commutation for a weapons charge as well. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was convicted of racketeering and bribery while in office, also had his 28-year sentence commuted. He served only seven years. The president did not pardon anyone in his family, nor himself, which was rumored to be a possibility for weeks now.