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Shortly before the end of his term, Donald Trump is nailing himself to the head: he has forgiven his former security adviser Flynn, who was under pressure from the Russian affair. Democrats are angry.
By Claudia Sarre, ARD Studio Washington
Two days ago he pardoned a turkey and now US President Donald Trump is showing pity for his former security adviser Michael Flynn. “Congratulations to General Flynn and his wonderful family,” Trump tweeted that evening. You would definitely have a great Thanksgiving now.
Flynn’s forgiveness, involved in the Russia affair, is not a surprise. Several times, Trump called the Russia investigation a witch hunt. Flynn didn’t break a law. “Michael Flynn is a wonderful man who has been treated very unfairly by the media,” the president said in February 2017, shortly after Flynn’s resignation.
“Act of serious corruption”
Democrats see it differently. The pardon is an act of gross corruption and blatant abuse of power, Democrat Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter. And Mark Warner, a Democratic Senator from Virginia, accused Trump on CNN of wanting to rewrite history. The whole thing is undemocratic.
Trump’s former national security adviser was one of the central figures in the so-called Russia affair. Twice he admitted lying to the FBI. Lies related to conversations Flynn had with then-Russian ambassador Sergei Kisliak in December 2016. In February 2017, after only three weeks in office, Flynn had to leave the White House for this reason. His indictment was followed by an endless legal battle. It was only in August that a US court rejected a request to close the case.
Finally, grace for yourself?
“This is not the first and sadly will not be the last time that this president has attempted to abuse his power in his own interest,” Senator Warner lamented. Lead Democrat Adam Schiff has joined in this criticism. The president rewards friends and political allies and protects those who lied for him, according to Schiff.
Trump had already released his longtime adviser Roger Stone, who was also involved in the Russia affair, from prison in July. Political observers expect him to use the remaining mandate to forgive other confidants. “As he cleans up his personal mess, our primary concern should be the damage he could do to our national security in the next 60 days,” Warner warned.
There is already speculation that Trump may end up forgiving himself. After all, it is facing a variety of lawsuits. Whether the US constitution allows it is a controversial question. There has never been a self-forgiveness for a president in US history.
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