Trump Pardons Include 2 People With Ties To Arizona

ARIZONA — President Donald Trump issued a flurry of pardons and commuted sentences in the final hours of his presidency, including two with ties to Arizona.

Trump granted pardons to 73 people and commuted the sentences of another 70 as one of his final acts before leaving office Wednesday.

Notably, he did not pardon himself or any members of his family or former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, his personal attorney.

In Arizona, Trump pardoned former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi, who represented Tucson in Congress, and Scott Conor Crosby.

Renzi was convicted of extortion, bribery, insurance fraud, money laundering, and racketeering in 2013. He was sentenced to two years in federal prison, two years of supervised release and paid a $25,000 fine. Before his conviction, Mr. Renzi served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was released from prison four years ago. His pardon was supported by Rep. Paul Gosar, among others.

Crosby was convicted in 1992 of bank robbery, after he made a “‘spur of the moment’ poor decision” to go along with a co-worker's plot. Since his release from prison, he has volunteered at his church, mentored youth and has become certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. Crosby's cilvil rights were restored by Arizona in 2003; the pardon will restore his federal civil rights. His pardon was supported by former Sen. Martha McSally, Mesa Mayor John Giles and more.

Among the others who received a last-minute pardon or commutation from Trump was Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist. Bannon was charged last August, accused of duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to help fulfill Trump’s chief campaign promise to build a wall along the nation’s southern border.

Bannon was accused of diverting more than $1 million to pay a salary to a campaign official and personal expenses for himself, according to The Associated Press. His co-defendants in the case were not pardoned.

The Bannon pardon was especially notable in that the prosecution was still in its early stages and a trial was likely months away, The AP reported. The pardon will now nullify the prosecution and eliminate any possibility of punishment.

“Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen,” the White House wrote in a news release announcing his full pardon.

Rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of the Trump family were among the others who received a pardon during the final 24 hours of the Trump presidency.

Rapper Lil Wayne was among them. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., the rapper’s real name, received a full pardon for his conviction for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon more than 10 years ago, the White House said.

“Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of food banks,” the statement said.

Kodak Black, another rapper who was convicted of weapons charges in Florida, also received a pardon from Trump.

Former lawmakers pardoned include former Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican who was convicted on charges of corruption and money laundering; and former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham of California, who was convicted of accepting bribes from defense contractors.

Trump commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served seven years in prison for a racketeering and bribery scheme.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.