Donald Trump pardons former strategist Steve Bannon, Lil Wayne and others in final hours of presidency
US President Donald Trump has pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a late flurry of clemency action benefiting more than 140 people.
The pardons and commutations for 143 people, including Bannon, were announced after midnight on Wednesday in the final hours of Trump’s White House term.
A statement from the White House said: “Prosecutors pursued Mr Bannon with charges related to fraud stemming from his involvement in a political project.
“Mr Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen.”
Among the other prominent names to have received a presidential pardon is US rapper Lil Wayne, who was convicted on a weapons charge, and Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the White House to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund.
Bannon had been charged with duping thousands of investors who believed their money would be used to fulfil Mr 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.
Bannon’s pardon was particularly notable as the prosecution was still in its early stages and he had not been tried. Pardon recipients are usually thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time.
“Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trump’s own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for,” Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter.
“And if that all sounds crazy, that’s because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.”
Over the last month, Mr Trump has already pardoned a slew of long-time associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his long-time friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Julian Assange’s supporters had hoped Mr Trump would pardon the Wikileaks founder, however he did not make the list.
Mr Assange’s partner Stella Moris previously said: “I urge the (US) Department of Justice to drop the charges and the President of the United States to pardon Julian.”
Earlier this month, Mr Assange won his fight to avoid extradition to the United States but was denied bail under strict conditions for fear he could abscond and deny prosecutors the chance to appeal.
The 49-year-old is wanted to face an 18-count indictment, alleging a plot to hack computers and a conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information.
The US Government has formally lodged an appeal against the decision to block Mr Assange’s extradition.
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