Donald Trump Pardons Conservative Critic Dinesh D'Souza

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, pardoned Dinesh D'Souza, a conservative filmmaker and critic who was convicted of violating campaign finance laws, on Thursday. D'Souza, known for his critical films about Barack Obama and opposition to the Democratic Party's policies, had pleaded guilty in 2014 and received a five-year suspended prison sentence. Trump stated in a Twitter message that D'Souza had not received enough fairness. During his flight to Houston, Texas, he mentioned that his next pardon might be for Martha Stewart. Trump had also pardoned Scooter Libby, former chief of staff to Dick Cheney, who was convicted of lying to the FBI during the outing of a CIA agent. George W. Bush, the former president during Libby's trial, commuted his sentence but did not pardon him. However, Trump pardoned Libby in April. Trump also indicated he might pardon Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, who is serving a 14-year sentence for conspiracy and corruption. The U.S. Constitution allows the president to reduce or completely pardon sentences imposed by the judiciary. Previously, Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio, a sheriff in Texas who was being prosecuted for federal law violations and racial discrimination without a sentence yet issued. Several Democratic representatives, constitutional experts, and critics have told the Associated Press that he is abusing presidential power to disregard the law for political purposes. Critics argue that he is sending a message to all defendants cooperating with Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating potential Russian interference in the presidential election, that political loyalty is rewarded with a pardon. Democratic Congressman Dan Baird tweeted, 'Like the pardon of Arpaio, Trump is sending a message that political loyalty matters and is rewarded with a get-out-of-jail-free card.' Dinesh D'Souza, 53, has been active in supporting conservative views and once debated Christopher Hitchens on the validity of religion and the existence of God. D'Souza had accepted his financial violation during his trial and requested leniency from the judge.