Donald Trump pardons ex-strategist Steve Bannon and dozens of others on leaving office Access to the comments

Jan.20, 2021

President Donald Trump has pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a late flurry of clemency action benefiting more than 140 people, including rap artists, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

The pardons and commutations were announced after midnight Wednesday in the final hours of Trump’s White House term. It follows separate waves of pardons over the last month for Trump associates convicted in the FBI’s Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law.

Steve Bannon pleaded not guilty to charges that he duped thousands of investors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trump’s chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

The pardon for Trump’s former adviser nullifies a prosecution that was still in its early stages and likely months away from trial in Manhattan, effectively eliminating any prospect for punishment.

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