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Added on the 09/05/2019 12:59:16 - Copyright : Wochit
President Donald Trump's final batch of pardons is expected to contain few controversial or outlandish criminals. According to CNN, Trump spent Saturday night huddled in a lengthy meeting with his legal advisers. In it, he was warned that pardoning himself and his family members would put him in legal peril and convey the appearance of guilt. Also, pardoning GOP lawmakers involved in the Capitol insurrection would anger the very Senate Republicans impeaching him. Several of Trump's closest advisers have also urged him not to grant clemency to anyone who breached the US Capitol. White House counsel Pat Cipollone and another attorney who represented Trump in his first impeachment trial, Eric Herschmann, offered the grave warnings. Trump, his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner listened quietly. Trump may, of course, change his mind.
Business Insider is reporting that President Donald Trump has pardoned his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. Manafort was investigated by Robert Mueller during his probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election. Manafort was convicted of eight counts of tax and bank fraud. Manafort also later pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and another count of obstruction. A federal judge voided the plea deal after finding that he lied to prosecutors after agreeing to cooperate. Manafort was sentenced last year to 7 1/2 years in prison for his crimes. The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee concluded that he represents a "grave counterintelligence threat" to the US.
The Republican National Committee paid $300,000 for copies of Donald Trump Jr's new book, Liberal Privilege. The books will be given away to party donors. The Daily Beast reports that $300,000 is the largest ever paid by the RNC for books to be given away to party donors. According to Business Insider the RNC bulk purchase of Trump's last book, Triggered, helped boost its place on bestseller lists.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday placed the blame for the attack on the Capitol firmly at the feet of President Donald Trump. CNN reports the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor that Trump 'provoked' the violent insurrectionists on January 6th. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the President and other powerful people. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell McConnell's comments came as the Senate prepares to hold an impeachment trial over the House's charge of 'incitement of insurrection.' He said the despite the violence, Congress did its duty by certifying the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Donald Trump Jr. had considered running for an open Senate seat in Wyoming last year--but decided against it. Instead, Business Insider reports the eldest son of President Donald Trump and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle are looking at real estate in Florida. The eldest son of President Donald Trump has sparred with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) over his father's foreign policy agenda in the past. But while Wyoming strongly leans Republican, he lacked roots in the Western state, which is also the least populated state in the US. White House advisor Ivanka Trump is thought of as a potential Republican challenger to GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in 2022. Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner are also house-hunting in Florida, where her father and stepmother plan to relocate shortly.