5/31/2018

MEDIA/PARDON/ROBERT MUELLER/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday [5-31-18] that he is considering pardoning Martha Stewart and commuting former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s sentence. Trump floated the idea of pardoning or commuting the sentences of the two former ‘Apprentice’ series stars hours after he pardoned the conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza. Last week, Trump also pardoned the deceased boxer Jack Johnson. Trump is weighing the Stewart pardon as his attorney Rudy Giuliani has taken to comparing the dilemma Trump faces about whether he should testify before the special counsel Robert Mueller to Stewart’s prosecution. Stewart, who was investigated for insider trading, was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction and making false statements to investigators — the latter of which Giuliani has seized on as a reason for why Trump should not sit for an interview…Trump’s pardons have raised questions about whether Trump is issuing pardons to send a message to his political allies and former aides who are under investigation by Mueller, a suggestion the White House has repeatedly rejected.”

-Jeremy Diamond, “Trump floats Martha Stewart pardon, Rod Blagojevich commutation,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, May 31, 2018 1:26 pm