We expected Democrats to be upset with Trump’s pardons, but there are quite a few Republicans that are not happy as well.
Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) has openly disagreed with the pardons, and now Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) is also hammering Trump, specifically about the pardon of Mark Siljander.
Siljander was indicted for money laundering and obstruction of justice more than ten years ago.
When the pardon was announced, Upton was beside himself.
He stated, “I wish the President would instead focus his energy on helping the millions of families and small businesses ravaged by the pandemic.”
…laundering, and lobbying for an international terrorist group with ties to Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban. Just stunned. I wish the President would instead focus his energy on helping the millions of families and small businesses ravaged by the pandemic.
— Fred Upton #WearYourMask (@RepFredUpton) December 24, 2020
The pardon apparently came to be via recommendations from former Attorney General Ed Meese, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Alabama congressman Robert Aderholt, and pastor Andrew Brunson.
On the pardon, the White House stated, “During his time in Congress, Mr. Siljander was one of Congress’s most stalwart defenders of pro-life principles and the namesake of the ‘Siljander Amendment,’ which prohibits U.S. funds from being used to lobby for or against abortion.”
You can read more about this report in the Washington Examiner.
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