Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the **criminals pardoned or commuted by Donald Trump** during his presidency (2017–2021), including their crimes, the cost to taxpayers, and the broader economic and social impact—particularly how these pardons disproportionately benefit the wealthy and powerful while harming average Americans.
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### **List of Trump Pardons & Commutations (2017–2021)**
*(Note: This list includes major pardons and commutations; lesser-known cases are omitted for brevity.)*
#### **1. Joe Arpaio (2017) – Sheriff of Maricopa County, AZ**
– **Crime:** Criminal contempt for defying a court order to stop racially profiling Latinos.
– **Pardon Cost:** $0 (no financial cost, but undermined judicial authority).
– **Impact:**
– **Rich get richer:** Arpaio was a political ally of Trump, who donated to his campaigns.
– **Average consumer:** Weakened civil rights enforcement, emboldening discriminatory policing.
– **Taxpayers:** Arpaio’s legal fees ($140K+) were covered by Arizona taxpayers before the pardon.
#### **2. Dinesh D’Souza (2018) – Right-Wing Pundit & Author**
– **Crime:** Federal campaign finance violations (illegal straw donations).
– **Pardon Cost:** $0 (but his legal fees were likely covered by conservative donors).
– **Impact:**
– **Rich get richer:** D’Souza was a wealthy media personality; his pardon rewarded political loyalty.
– **Average consumer:** His pardon sent a message that elite crimes (like dark-money election interference) go unpunished.
#### **3. Conrad Black (2019) – Media Mogul (Formerly Owned *The Chicago Sun-Times*)**
– **Crime:** Fraud & obstruction of justice (convicted of defrauding shareholders).
– **Pardon Cost:** $0 (but his legal fees were reportedly in the millions).
– **Impact:**
– **Rich get richer:** Black was a billionaire with ties to Trump’s social circle.
– **Average consumer:** His pardon reinforced the idea that white-collar crime is a “victimless” crime—until taxpayers bail out corporations.
#### **4. Eddie DeBartolo Jr. (2020) – Former San Francisco 49ers Owner**
– **Crime:** Bribery & extortion (paid off a Louisiana governor for a riverboat casino license).
– **Pardon Cost:** $0 (but his legal fees were likely high).
– **Impact:**
– **Rich get richer:** DeBartolo was a billionaire with political connections.
– **Average consumer:** His pardon showed that corporate lobbying and bribery pay off.
#### **5. Rod Blagojevich (2020) – Former Illinois Governor**
– **Crime:** Corruption (trying to sell Obama’s old Senate seat).
– **Pardon Cost:** $0 (but his legal fees were significant).
– **Impact:**
– **Rich get richer:** Blagojevich was a career politician with elite connections.
– **Average consumer:** His pardon highlighted how corruption in government goes unpunished if you’re well-connected.
#### **6. Michael Milken (2020) – “Junk Bond King” (Drexel Burnham Lambert)**
– **Crime:** Securities fraud (insider trading, racketeering).
– **Pardon Cost:** $0 (but his fines were $600M+ before Trump’s pardon).
– **Impact:**
– **Rich get richer:** Milken was a Wall Street legend; his pardon was a gift to finance capital
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