May 31, 2018

Trump floats clemency for Martha Stewart and Rod Blagojevich

Trump speaking to an audience after signing a bill. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

President Trump said he would consider pardoning Martha Stewart's insider trading conviction and commuting the political corruption sentence of ex-Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich during a session with reporters on Air Force One.

The list: Trump already has several pardons under his belt as president, including former sheriff Joe Arpaio, Scooter Libby, Navy sailor Kristian Saucier, boxing champion Jack Johnson, and — earlier today — right-wing filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza.

What Trump said:

  • "There’s another one that I’m thinking about: Rod Blagojevich. 18 years in jail for being stupid and saying things that every other politician, you know, that many other politicians say."
  • "I don’t know him other than that he was on The Apprentice for a short period of time. ... And he’s a Democrat. He’s not my party. But I thought that he was treated unfairly."
  • "I think to a certain extent Martha Stewart was harshly and unfairly treated — and she used to be my biggest fan in the world … before I became a politician. But that’s OK, I don’t view it that way."

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