Throughout his first term, President Donald Trump has angered and outraged Democrats at every turn by exercising the powers he holds as commander in chief.
As a recent example, his pardon of former national security adviser Michael Flynn has sparked criticism from many of his ardent detractors — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
“Should never happen in our country again”
“The President has pardoned General Flynn because he should never have been prosecuted,” declared a White House statement posted by Flynn to Twitter on Thursday.
This “Pardon of Innocence” is historic, sincerely appreciated & should never happen in our country again. I will issue a personal statement later today. My family issued one yesterday.
Thank you America 🇺🇸
Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 😀🇺🇸
1 Chronicles 16:32–34 💪🙏 pic.twitter.com/6TIN2eh3JE
— General Flynn (@GenFlynn) November 26, 2020
“An independent review of General Flynn’s case by the Department of Justice — conducted by respected career professionals — supports this conclusion,” the statement continued.
Echoing Flynn’s own remarks, the White House asserted that he “should not require a pardon,” declaring him an “innocent man” and wishing him and his family a happy Thanksgiving.
Although Trump’s former national security adviser pleaded guilty to lying about Russian connections in statements to federal investigators, critics of the underlying FBI probe into Trump’s 2016 campaign believe Flynn was unfairly targeted.
“An act of grave corruption and a brazen abuse of power”
Nevertheless, the pardon drew a swift reaction from Pelosi, who issued a statement of her own.
“President Trump’s pardoning of Michael Flynn, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his dealings with a foreign adversary, is an act of grave corruption and a brazen abuse of power,” she claimed.
Pelosi went on to complain that the president is “again using the pardon power to protect those who lie to cover up his wrongdoing.”
Others in her party joined in the condemnation of Trump’s action, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who tweeted: “Donald Trump has repeatedly abused the pardon power to reward friends and protect those who covered for him.”
The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee railed that it is “no surprise that Trump would go out as he came in — crooked to the end.”
The post Pelosi leads Democratic opposition to Trump's pardon of Michael Flynn first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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