Mr Trump uses his quest to eliminate fraud as way to save Social Security and Medicare to bring down the deficit. Who can argue against attacking fraud?
Mr Trump has also convinced many low information Americans that voter fraud is organized, is widespread and changes election results.
Apparently the liar in chief has different standards for friends and colleagues…
Several individuals convicted of or charged with various forms of fraud—including bank fraud, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, tax fraud, and securities fraud—received full presidential pardons or executive clemency from President Donald Trump during his presidency.
Below is a list of prominent individuals in this category, categorized by their specific cases:
Corporate, Financial & Securities Fraud
- Trevor Milton: Founder of electric truck maker Nikola, convicted of securities and wire fraud for misleading investors about the company’s technology.
- Sholam Weiss: Convicted in 2000 for his role in a $125 million fraud scheme that collapsed National Heritage Life Insurance. (Sentence commuted in 2021).
- Jason Galanis: Financier convicted of securities fraud and investment advisor fraud, including defrauding the Oglala Sioux Nation. (Sentence commuted).
- Adriana Isabel & Andres Enrique Camberos: Siblings convicted in a multimillion-dollar counterfeit distribution and wire fraud scheme.
- Peter Y. Atkinson & John A. Boultbee: Former Hollinger International media executives convicted of mail fraud alongside Conrad Black.
Bank, Tax & Personal Financial Fraud
- Todd & Julie Chrisley: Reality TV stars convicted of bank fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion, and submitting false financial statements to obtain over $30 million in personal loans.
- Paul Manafort: Former Trump campaign chairman convicted of tax fraud, bank fraud, and failure to report foreign bank accounts.
- Charles Kushner: Real estate developer (and father of Jared Kushner) who pled guilty to tax fraud, retaliating against a federal witness, and making false statements.
- Michael Grimm: Former U.S. Representative from New York who pled guilty to tax fraud related to a restaurant business.
- Albert Pirro: Real estate attorney convicted of conspiracy, tax evasion, and 29 counts of tax-related fraud.
Political, Campaign & Public Corruption Fraud
- Steve Bannon: Former Trump chief strategist charged with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the “We Build the Wall” crowdfunding effort.
- Glen Casada: Former Tennessee House Speaker convicted of honest services fraud and public corruption charges.
- Dinesh D’Souza: Conservative author and commentator convicted of campaign finance fraud for using straw donors.
- Elliott Broidy: Former Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent and attempting to secretly lobby the U.S. government in exchange for millions from foreign entities.
Healthcare Fraud
- Philip Esformes: Healthcare executive convicted in a $1 billion Medicare fraud and bribery scheme. (Sentence commuted in 2020).
- John Duncan Fordham: Former pharmacist convicted of federal healthcare fraud and illegal kickback schemes
Then, of course, on his first day back in office Trump pardoned nearly all Jan. 6 defendants (about 1500) he commuted, rather than formally pardoned, the sentences of 14 people convicted in some of the most serious cases.
That seems like a strange way to defend our Constitution.
