Presidential Pardons

Rep. Chris Collins Sentenced to 26 Months for Insider Trading From White House Lawn

| Importance: 8/10

Former U.S. Representative Chris Collins (R-NY) was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a $200,000 fine by Judge Vernon S. Broderick for insider trading and making false statements to the FBI. Collins, who was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald …

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Paul Manafort Sentenced to Combined 7.5 Years in Federal Prison, Longest Mueller Investigation Sentence

| Importance: 8/10

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort received a combined sentence of 7.5 years (90 months) in federal prison across two separate criminal cases stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, representing the longest prison term imposed on any defendant in the Mueller …

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Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Arrested for Attempting to Sell Obama's Senate Seat

| Importance: 9/10

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested at the governor’s home on federal corruption charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. The 76-page FBI affidavit revealed that Blagojevich was captured on …

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Rep. Duke Cunningham Pleads Guilty to $2.4 Million Bribery Scheme

| Importance: 9/10

Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty in federal court in San Diego to conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. The decorated Vietnam War fighter ace admitted to accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors in exchange for …

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Clinton Pardon Scandal Reveals Payments to President's Brother and Brother-in-Law

| Importance: 8/10

New revelations emerge that Hugh Rodham, Hillary Clinton’s brother, received $400,000 in payments for successfully lobbying President Clinton to grant a pardon to Almon Glenn Braswell, a businessman under investigation for money laundering, and a commutation for convicted drug trafficker …

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Clinton Pardons Fugitive Marc Rich Amid Corruption Allegations

| Importance: 9/10

Hours before leaving office, President Bill Clinton grants a controversial presidential pardon to Marc Rich, an international fugitive who fled to Switzerland in 1983 to avoid prosecution on 51 counts of tax fraud, racketeering, and illegal oil trading with Iran during the 1979-1980 hostage crisis. …

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Bush Pardons Six Iran-Contra Officials on Christmas Eve, Completing Cover-Up

| Importance: 10/10

President George H.W. Bush issues sweeping pardons to six Iran-Contra defendants on Christmas Eve, twelve days before former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger’s trial was scheduled to begin. The pardons cover Weinberger, former National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane, former Assistant …

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