“Shocking”, “despicable”, “dishonorable”: the pardons granted by Donald Trump to ex-mercenaries convicted of the murders of Iraqis in 2007 and to personalities implicated in the Russian investigation have provoked outrage , in Washington as in Baghdad.
The American president announced on Tuesday evening, December 22, fifteen pardons and five other clemency measures, which notably benefit four ex-agents of the sulphurous private security company Blackwater, found guilty of the murder of 14 Iraqi civilians in 2007 in Baghdad .
One of these security guards, Nicholas Slatten, was sentenced to life in prison, the other three to terms of 12 to 15 years. They had been convicted of opening machine gun fire and throwing grenades at a busy Baghdad intersection as they drove around in armored vehicles, a carnage that sparked worldwide outrage.
“A long history of service to the nation”
According to Iraqi authorities, the shooting had killed 17 people, but the involvement of the mercenaries had only been established in 14 cases, including women and children.
In Baghdad, the Iraqi police officer who investigated the shooting expressed his outrage. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Fares Saadi told Agence France-Presse. “I knew we would not see justice.”
The White House claimed that the four men, all former soldiers, had “a long history of service to the nation,” but Donald Trump was accused of once again abusing the right of pardon.
“All this makes me want to throw up”
“I know nothing he does surprises me anymore, but what a shocking, partisan and repulsive abuse of power! Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen tweeted.
“All this makes me want to vomit,” ruled former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, who sat on the Armed Forces Committee of the Upper House. “This grace dishonours our army in an unspeakable way”.
For Mark Hertling, a former general who fought in Iraq, “the pardon bestowed on the employees of Blackwater is Donald Trump’s most scandalous and despicable act.” “It was a cowardly war crime that resulted in the deaths of 17 civilians. Shame on you, Mr. President! He tweeted.
“Loyalty above all else”
The Blackwater company, which has since disappeared, was founded by one of Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters, Eric Prince, who is also the brother of Education Minister Betsy DeVos.
“Trump places loyalty above everything else: above the rule of law, above our democracy, and certainly above justice,” said Adam Schiff, president of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee.
The US president also pardoned two of his allies implicated in Special Prosecutor’s Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible collusion between Russia and his campaign team in 2016: a former diplomatic adviser, George Papadopoulos, and a Dutch lawyer, Alex van der Zwaan.
Political graces
At the end of November, Donald Trump had already pardoned Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, also implicated in the same case. Other pardons were granted to three elected Republicans convicted of corruption, Duncan Hunter, Chris Collins and Steve Stockman.
For the anti-corruption group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), “Trump’s message is clear: justice does not apply to you if you are loyal to it.” According to an analysis by Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith, at least 42 of the 65 pardons granted to date by Donald Trump have been decided for political purposes, and only five have been recommended by White House legal advisers .
Donald Trump would also consider, according to the American press, granting a preventive pardon to his children, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, before leaving the White House in January. Even to pardon himself.
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