“The Most Incredible, Wonderful Crimes”: Trump’s Pardon for Drug Smuggler Raises Questions and Concerns

Jo ShawDec 2, 2023

Minute Read

In a surprising story, the New York Times revealed that Trump granted a late pardon to a drug smuggler connected to Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father. Following this, reports emerged that a woman, formerly associated with Giuliani, Trump’s ex-lawyer, claimed a pardon came with a $2 million price tag. The year prior, Charles Kushner received a pardon from Trump, causing tension with the Department of Justice amid a halted investigation. How many pardons have ties to Kushner?

Presidential Pardon Costs $2 Million

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In January 2021, The Guardian disclosed that a colleague of Rudy Giuliani informed a former CIA officer that securing a presidential pardon would require a payment of $2 million.

Giuliani Had Discussed the Sale of Pardons

In a separate 2021 lawsuit, a woman claiming to have worked for Rudy Giuliani in the final two years of the Trump administration also alleged that Giuliani was involved in discussions about selling Presidential pardons. A 70-page lawsuit stated, “He also asked Ms. Dunphy if she knew anyone in need of a pardon, telling her that he was selling pardons for $2 million, which he and President Trump would split.”

Trump Took Pardons to Extremes

The article states that Presidential pardons were “meant to reward offenders who show contrition, but added, “Presidents often use them to reward allies, but Trump has taken the practice to extremes.”

Younger Kushner Ran the Pardon Process “Ad Hoc.”

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The Times also reported an “ad hoc” system for approving pardons while Trump was in office. The New York Times had claimed the procedure for pardons “was run by the younger Kushner, bypassing the usual ‘intensive justice department review process intended to identify and vet the most deserving recipients from among thousands of clemency applications.’”

Trump Allies Collected Fees From Wealthy Felons

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In a further article by the Times, they also reported that as Trump was leaving office upon losing the election, “a lucrative market for pardons is coming to a head, with some of his allies collecting fees from wealthy felons or their associates to push the White House for clemency, according to documents and interviews with more than three dozen lobbyists and lawyers.”

Unchecked Presidential Clemency Powers

The article highlighted the former President’s “unorthodox approach to exercising unchecked presidential clemency powers.” Instead of “showing mercy to deserving recipients,” the report stated that Trump was using his power “to reward personal or political allies.”

Last Minute Pardon for Drug Smuggler

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The New York Times also investigated Trump’s last-minute Presidential pardon for a drug smuggler named Jonathan Braun, which was made hours before leaving office.

Convict Served Two Years of a 10-Year Sentence

The article highlighted that the drug smuggler Braun had only served two and a half years of a ten-year sentence. The New York Times also highlighted the lack of vetting over Trump’s pardons. They reported, “Just months after Mr. Trump freed him, Mr. Braun returned to working as a predatory lender, according to New York State’s attorney general.”

Braun Agreed to Cooperate in Investigation

The report also mentioned that following Braun’s guilty plea to drug charges in 2011, Mr. Braun agreed to cooperate in an ongoing investigation. This arrangement allowed him to avoid imprisonment but required nine years of supervision.

Braun Made Violent Threats.

During this time, court filings indicate that he transformed into a predatory lender, resorting to violent threats against those who owed him money. Business Insider reported that Trump’s last-minute pardon had ruined the DoJ’s investigation.

Mr. Braun’s Family Used Connection to Kushner

Reports circulated that, to secure the drug dealer’s release, Mr. Braun’s family leveraged a connection to Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, in an attempt to bring the matter to Mr. Trump’s attention.

Multiple Paths to Get Out of Prison

In a telephone interview, Mr. Braun had reportedly claimed that he did not know the circumstances surrounding his pardon. “I believe God made it happen for me because I’m a good person, and I was treated unfairly.” He also reportedly stated that his family had tried multiple paths to secure his release.

A Victim of the Criminal Justice System

Braun has also claimed that the 10-year sentence he got for marijuana trafficking was unfair, casting himself as a victim of the criminal justice system. He also denied any misconduct as a lender.

No Vetting for Pardons

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An attorney general, William P. Barr, had said when he took over the Justice Department, he noted that “there were pardons being given without any vetting by the department.”

In 2020, Charles Kushner Received His Pardon

Just two days before Christmas in 2020, President Donald issued 29 pardons or commutations to people convicted of crimes, including Charles Kushner. Kushner, who made his wealth in real estate, received a two-year federal prison sentence in 2005.

Tax Evasion and Illegal Contributions

This followed his guilty plea to 18 distinct charges, which included tax evasion. It was also reported that he was a prominent Democratic contributor, and another charge had been related to making illegal campaign contributions.

Trump Pardoned 74 People Before Leaving Office

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CBS News stated that just before leaving office in 2021, Trump granted pardons to 74 individuals and commuted the sentences of 70 others.

The Most Incredible, Wonderful Crimes

People were notably angry over the news. One user posted online, “Presidential pardons are antiquated and should be abolished.” Another user posted, “He pardons only the best people that committed the most incredible, wonderful crimes…”