advertisement

The Latest: Trump tells pardoned man conviction was 'fishy'

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump's pardons (all times local):

6:45 a.m.

An Obama administration critic convicted of campaign finance fraud says President Donald Trump called him at his office to tell him he was pardoned because he had been "screwed."

Dinesh D'Souza told "Fox & Friends" on Friday that Trump told him he was a "great voice for freedom" and that the case against him was "fishy" from the start.

Trump pardoned D'Souza, who had been sentenced to five years' probation in 2014 after pleading guilty to violating federal election law by making illegal contributions to a U.S. Senate campaign in the names of others.

Conservatives rallied around him, saying he was being singled out in a politically motivated prosecution.

___

12:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump has pardoned a conservative commentator he claims "was treated very unfairly by our government!" and announced he's thinking about clemency for Martha Stewart and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, among "lots" of other people.

Trump told reporters about the potential pardons after his latest pardon - a decision to clear the name of Dinesh D'Souza, who had pleaded guilty to campaign finance fraud.

It was the latest example of Trump trying to right a perceived wrong with his presidential pardon power.

FILE - In this March 14, 2012 file photo, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, with his wife Patti at his side, speaks to the media in Chicago before reporting to federal prison in Denver. President Donald Trump says he is considering commuting the sentence of ex- Gov. Blagojevich and pardoning Martha Stewart. The comments came aboard Air Force One on Thursday, May 31, 2018, after he tweeted that he planned to pardon conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza. Blagojevich, a Democrat, began serving his 14-year prison sentence on corruption convictions in 2012. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File) The Associated Press
FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2011 file photo, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, left, speaks to reporters as his wife, Patti, listens at the federal building in Chicago. President Donald Trump says he is considering commuting the sentence of ex- Gov. Blagojevich and pardoning Martha Stewart. The comments came aboard Air Force One on Thursday, May 31, 2018, after he tweeted that he planned to pardon conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza. Blagojevich, a Democrat, began serving his 14-year prison sentence on corruption convictions in 2012. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File) The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 5, 2004 file photo, Martha Stewart leaves Manhattan Federal Court after guilty verdicts in her federal stock fraud trial in New York. President Donald Trump says he's considering pardoning Martha Stewart. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.