Politics & Government
Trump Pardon Of Far-Right Pundit Slammed By NY Attorney General
In pardoning Dinesh D'Souza, the president is "undermining the rule of law," Barbara Underwood said.
NEW YORK, NY — The New York attorney general slammed President Donald Trump's pardon of the far-right pundit Dinesh D'Souza, saying it's more evidence of the need to close a loophole in the state's double jeopardy law. Attorney General Barbara Underwood said the president is "undermining the rule of law" by pardoning D'Souza, whom she called "an unapologetic convicted felon."
"President Trump’s latest pardon makes crystal clear his willingness to use his pardon power to thwart the cause of justice, rather than advance it," Underwood said in a statement Thursday.
Trump, a Republican, said on Twitter that he would give a full pardon to D'Souza, a conservative commentator, author and activist who pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance fraud in 2014.
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"He was treated very unfairly by our government!" Trump tweeted Thursday morning.
D'Souza is known for pushing far-right conspiracy theories in his books and films including "2012: Obama's America" and "Hillary's America."
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He admitted in Manhattan federal court to illegally reimbursing two associates for $10,000 donations to Wendy Long's 2012 Republican U.S. Senate campaign against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
He also admitted "he knew that what he was doing was wrong and something the law forbids," federal prosecutors said in a news release. D'Souza's case was overseen by former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, whom Trump fired last year.
Underwood urged lawmakers to pass legislation proposed by her predecessor, Eric Schneiderman — who resigned this month amid allegations that he abused four women — that would allow prosecutions under state law of people given presidential pardons for parallel federal crimes.
The measure would "ensure that anyone who evades federal justice by virtue of a politically expedient pardon can be held accountable if they violate New York law," Underwood said in a statement.
(Lead image: Dinesh D'Souza speaks at the 2014 Republican Leadership Conference. Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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