Public Comment

While many poor innocent African Americans (see GEORGIA INNOCENT PROJECT) languish in America’s dark dungeons while others serve long jail sentences for minor infractions of the law, the former (the word sounds delicious) President Trump has granted pardons to rich felons, are another example of the shameless influence-peddling on his watch. Predictably, Trump bypassed the vetting and approval process of the Justice Department. This monumental abuse of power screams for Congressional action.

Trump’s swamp was overflowing with notable felons Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, , ,but with a stroke of the pen he freed them from the clutches of the law, free to continue their sordid activities. One of the most egregious miscreants was former Trump strategist, Steve Bannon, indicted for fraud as part of crowdfunding campaign to build the border wall. But much to the dismay of his gullible donors Bannon used the stolen money to purchase a million-dollar yacht. Who said crime doesn’t pay?

What do the pardon beneficiaries have in common, - intimate knowledge of Trump’s political and business activities which could exacerbate Trump’s legal problems.

Selling indulgences (forgiving sins for donations) used to be common practice in the Roman Catholic Church. Modern day preachers in megachurches whip up emotions of guilt and redemption to exact donations from their congregations.

Monetizing pardons is nothing new. In Chaucer's "Pardoner’s Tale" the pardoner has hair “yellow as wax” as well as false credentials, and derives great pleasure in swindling his victims.