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Trump granted a full pardon to his former 2016 campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, who kickstarted the Russian investigation when he told a foreign diplomat about Russia’s efforts to dig up dirt on Hillary Clinton. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation for making false statements to the FBI. The former Skadden Arps lawyer Alexander van der Zwaan, who likewise pleaded guilty in Mueller’s probe, was granted a full pardon for lying to officials investigating his involvement in a 2012 a report that white-washed the prosecution of a Ukrainian official.
Former Reps. Chris Collins (R-NY) and Duncan Hunter (R-CA) were also granted full pardons. The two Republicans were the first members of the House to endorse Trump in the 2016 campaign. Collins pleaded guilty for crimes related to an insider trading scandal, and is currently serving a 26-month prison sentence. Hunter, who was scheduled to go to prison next month, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations.
Another former House Republican, Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), was also pardoned by Trump. Stockman had been convicted in 2018 for a slew of financial crimes, also involving the misuse of campaign funds.
Ten other individuals received pardons, the White House announced Tuesday, and five more received partial or full commutations of their sentences.
Among those pardoned were several Blackwater contractors who were prosecuted for fatally shooting unarmed Iraqi civilians in a 2007 episode of the Iraq War.
Read the full White House announcement of the pardons below: