#Trump, speaking of himself, said: “He’s [#Blagojevich] cleaner than anyone in the room.”
So now we know the litmus test for all the pardons: if you’re no worse a criminal as tRump, you’ll get a pardon (or the #DOJ will be told to stop investigating). #madoff will be soon.

https://www.wsj.com/business/federal-prosecutors-investigate-vince-mcmahon-sex-trafficking-allegations-460a6822

https://www.wsj.com/business/federal-prosecutors-investigate-vince-mcmahon-sex-trafficking-allegations-460a6822

I was born & raised in #Chicago (proper)

This is quintessential #injustice

#Trump pardons #Blagojevich

#corruption #politics #law
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-10/trump-pardons-blagojevich-s-corruption-conviction

#Blagojevich is full of shit. I worked in the Lt Governor's office when he was governor. He was the epitome of the Chicago Dem machine politician that Republicans love to hate, yet somehow Trump has convinced his people he wasn't. I can't understand it. #JRE

edit: actually I can. both Blago and Trump have that greasy salesman shit going. it repels me but so many love that shit. it makes perfect sense why they like each other and how they can share a constituency.

https://pca.st/episode/dad00263-34ad-465f-bf82-60300d438791

Convicted criminals take Republican stage despite focus on ‘law and order’

#Trump and Peter #Navarro
– fresh out of Florida jail
– both addressed convention with Paul #Manafort in attendance

“I went to prison so you won’t have to,” declared #Navarro
– who was convicted for refusing to comply with subpoenas from the House January 6 committee
– to a jubilant crowd that responded with a standing ovation. (I'm sure many were reassured by that promise)

Another former Trump aide turned convicted criminal in attendance was Paul #Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager in 2016.
Three years later he was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on charges including
bank fraud,
tax fraud,
money laundering and
witness tampering, arising from the investigation of Russian election interference and links between Trump and Moscow.

In 2020 Trump pardoned Manafort, who later wrote a memoir called Political Prisoner. At the convention, Manafort was briefly linked with an organising role before backing off, though he was still in Milwaukee to tell Fox News: “I’ve done 10 conventions. This is the best.”

Roger #Stone, who like Manafort is a longtime operative convicted on charges arising from the Russia investigation, was also at the convention in Milwaukee.
Stone was sentenced to more than three years in prison after being convicted of criminal charges including witness tampering and obstructing Congress. He never set foot in jail, as Trump commuted his sentence.

Rod #Blagojevich attended as well. In July 2011, the former Democratic governor of Illinois was convicted on 17 criminal charges, including bribery, fraud and extortion, arising from an attempt to sell Barack Obama’s US Senate seat.
Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years. In 2020, Trump commuted his sentence. This week, Blagojevich told NBC: “I think President Trump is the most demonised political figure in American history, and I know something about being demonised.”

Another former Trump aide jailed for criminal contempt of Congress over January 6 did not make it to the convention hall, but Steve #Bannon was getting updates via phone from his daughter in Wisconsin to his federal prison in Connecticut.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/19/rnc-trump-navarro-felons?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other