Here’s the Background Story:

(RightWing.org) – Earlier this week, we reported on Trump’s controversial pardons that are leaving a lot of people confused. Detractors are continuing their cries about how politically biased Trump is with everything he does. However, a closer look at those recently pardoned, or had their sentences commuted, may not necessarily indicate a political bias.

Were Trump’s recent pardons really politically motivated?

Here Are the Contributing Factors:

A good place to start in determining any sort of bias Trump may or may not have is to look at who was pardoned. If Trump’s pardons were truly motivated by politics, there should be some underlying thread that ties them all together. If anything, the individuals’ political affiliations should be aligned if there was any bias at all.

So, let’s take a look at who was pardoned by Trump.

• Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat and former Illinois governor, had his sentence commuted. He was charged with attempting to sell Barack Obama’s empty Senate seat after he won the 2008 election.
• Michael Milken, aka the “junk bond king,” was charged in 1990 with tax and securities violations. Milken has also done a great deal in supporting prostate cancer research.
• Ariel Friedler, founder and CEO of a software company, pleaded guilty in 2014 for hacking into the computer systems of two of his company’s competitors. His software was used by colleges and universities for student disciplinary record management.
• Angela Stanton is a reality TV star, author, prison-reform activist, and goddaughter to Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece. She was sentenced to six months of home confinement for participating in a stolen car ring.

This is a sampling of the 11 people who were either pardoned or had their sentences commuted. None of them have any connections to each other or have the same political affiliation. There’s even a Democrat among this list of people, which seems to indicate that this act of pardoning by Trump wasn’t politically motivated.

While the actions of these individuals are certainly questionable and warranted the charges levied against them, maybe these people deserve a second chance. Milken, for example, was already well-known for his fight against prostate cancer. Would he be doing the world more good by sitting in a prison cell than being out in the world with the opportunity to continue his battle against cancer?

Poll: Are Trump’s Pardons Politically Motivated?

33% Voted Yes

67% Voted No

What Do You Think?

Maybe Trump believes in second chances more than punitive justice. After all, Trump passed the First Step Act, which, among other cases, releases those who were charged with non-violent marijuana crimes.

Clinton Stewart went to prison for over 7 years for not paying corporate bills.

A Federal Judge asked Obama to grant Clint clemency. Obama refused.

Trump’s First Step Act freed him.

Here’s the moment Mr. Stewart was released, embraced his family and thanked @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/UguknmxHsX

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 18, 2020

Do you think Trump’s recent pardons were politically motivated?

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