Shortly before the handover of power, Donald Trump made the headlines again: Despite reports of a pardon list, death sentences were carried out
Donald Trump's term of office ends on January 20, 2021.
According to insiders, the US president wants to issue over 100 pardons.
Under Donald Trump, death sentences are carried out by the federal judiciary.
Update from January 18, 4:47 p.m.:
As the broadcaster CNN reports, it cannot be ruled out that
Donald Trump may
issue
advance pardons
for himself and his family
.
With this step, the US president can
prevent future criminal investigations
.
After the violent
storming of the Capitol
on January 6th, the self-pardon is controversial.
Because Donald Trump is accused of inciting his supporters with a speech about the outbreak of violence, he must
expect
criminal consequences
after his term in office.
If he were to pardon himself, the authorities would be
powerless
with regard to
future investigations
.
USA: Self-pardon is legally controversial - In case of doubt, the Supreme Court has to decide
In the US Constitution, the self-pardon of the US President is not clearly clarified.
There is
legal leeway which
, in case of doubt, must be filled by a ruling by the Supreme Court.
A
possible self-pardon has
no effect on the
impeachment proceedings
currently underway
against Trump
.
The constitution provides that the next step is for the
Senate
to decide on the procedure.
Ominous events: Trump attorney Giuliani offers pardon for two million dollars - FBI switched on
First report from January 18:
Washington DC - Donald Trump's term of office ends in a few days.
As President-elect Joe Biden prepares his inauguration, Donald Trump has uncertain days ahead.
Pending impeachment proceedings, threatened lawsuits and reports of financial disagreements weigh on the still-president.
Trump sees the last days of his tenure as a time to prepare for the future outside the White House.
Donald Trump: is he pardoning over 100 convicts?
As
CNN
reports, Trump has a
list of over 100 names
whose sentences are either to be lifted or at least reduced.
Trump has gladly made use of his
right to pardon
in the past
: As early as December 2020, Trump pardoned
loyal companions
, including
Paul Manafort
, his former campaign manager and his long-term confidante
Roger Stone
.
Charles Kushner
, father of Trump's advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner, is
among the pardons
.
The
Obama and Clinton administrations
also saw controversial pardons in the final stages of their terms.
However, it was rather not about people who had been convicted of crimes directly related to the president or his election campaign.
USA: Julian Assange on pardon list?
As
CNN
reports, prominent names are also on the list that the president has.
It is also speculated whether
Wikileaks founder and whistleblower Julian Assange is
one of the people on the list.
The US accuses the 49-year-old Australian of
espionage and betrayal of secrets
.
The background to this is the publication of secret military and diplomatic documents on the Wikileaks platform in 2010. Assange has been sitting in the English maximum security prison Belmarsh since 2019.
In the event of extradition to the USA, the Australians can expect up to
175 years in prison
- but recently a British court refused to do so.
Donald Trump's attorney Rudolph Giuliani campaigns for pardon against payment
As the
New York Times
reports, Trump's companions collect payments from convicts to appeal to the president for their pardon.
According to the information, a former top consultant received
over $ 50,000
to pardon
John Kiriakou
.
The former CIA official was convicted of divulging classified information.
Kiriakou was also offered that Trump's personal attorney Rudi Giuliani would take up the pardon.
For a payment of two million dollars.
Kiriakou turned down the offer, and a confidante reported the matter to the FBI
But not only wealthy offenders consider a pardon request.
According to media reports, Trump himself saw an option in self-pardon.
As
reported by
CNN
, his legal experts advise against this step.
A self-pardon could be
interpreted
as an
admission of guilt
.
It also remains to be seen whether Trump's ex-confidante
Steve Bannon will be
pardoned.
Donald Trump: After a 17-year hiatus, death sentences are being carried out at the federal level
While Trump confidants can hope for a pardon, the US president is
merciless
when it comes to
executions
.
Most executions in the United States are carried out in the individual states, but
13 death sentences have been carried out at the federal level
during Donald Trump's tenure
.
Federal executions were not carried out for 17 years before the Trump administration carried out death sentences in mid-2020.
The last execution in Donald Trump's tenure was of
Dustin Higgs
.
The 49-year-old was found guilty in 2000 of abducting three women with two friends and ordering their killing.
Higgs' lawyer tried in vain to obtain a
pardon
, and the convict was
executed
on January
16, 2021
.
The Higgs execution was the
third in a week
and the last planned under Trump.
Joe Biden is considered an
opponent of the death penalty
.
Most recently, democratic party friends of the President-elect had announced that they would present a bill to
abolish the nation-state death penalty
.
In the coming legislative period, the Democrats will have a majority in the Senate and House of Representatives, so that the proposal could find broad support.
(
AFP
/
dpa / jf
) *
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