Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency

Today,
President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Grants of Clemency granting
Full Pardons to the following individuals: Edward DeBartolo, Jr.,
Michael Milken, Ariel Friedler, Bernard Kerik, Paul Pogue, David
Safavian, and Angela Stanton.  In addition, President Trump signed
Executive Grants of Clemency granting commutations to Rod Blagojevich,
Tynice Nichole Hall, Crystal Munoz, and Judith Negron. 

Edward DeBartolo, Jr., is a successful businessman,
real estate developer, and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
 During the 23 years that he owned the San Francisco 49ers, the team won
an unprecedented 13 division titles and 5 Super Bowl Championships.  In
1998, he was convicted for failing to report a felony regarding payment
demanded for a riverboat casino license, and he was sentenced to 2
years’ probation.  Mr. DeBartolo did not allow his conviction to define
his life.  He remained a generous philanthropist and passionate
supporter of numerous charitable causes, including charter schools like
the Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, and anti-gang violence
initiatives.  His exceptional compassion and warmth define his character
to this day.  Mr. DeBartolo treated players and coaches as part of his
family.  Many prominent individuals from the National Football League
have strongly advocated for this pardon, including Joe Montana, Jim
Brown, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, Derrick
Brooks, Fred Dean, Robert Kraft, Jerry Jones, and Roger Goodell.  They
have been joined in their support by other notable figures and
organizations, including Pastor Darrell Scott, Kareem Lanier, Paul Anka,
and the Urban Revitalization Coalition.

Michael Milken, one of America’s greatest financiers,
pioneered the use of high-yield bonds in corporate finance.  His
innovative work greatly expanded access to capital for emerging
companies.  By enabling smaller players to access the financing they
needed to compete, Mr. Milken’s efforts helped create entire industries,
such as wireless communications and cable television, and transformed
others, like home building.  Mr. Milken’s work also democratized
corporate finance by providing women and minorities access to capital
that would have been unavailable to them otherwise.  In 1989, at the
height of his finance career, Mr. Milken was charged in an indictment
alleging that some of his innovative financing mechanisms were in fact
criminal schemes.  The charges filed against Mr. Milken were truly
novel.  In fact, one of the lead prosecutors later admitted that Mr.
Milken had been charged with numerous technical offenses and regulatory
violations that had never before been charged as crimes.  Though he
initially vowed to fight the charges, Mr. Milken ultimately pled guilty
in exchange for prosecutors dropping criminal charges against his
younger brother.  As a result, Mr. Milken served 2 years in prison in
the early 1990s.  Since his release, Mr. Milken has dedicated his life
to philanthropy, continuing charitable work that he began before his
indictment.  Over the years, Mr. Milken—either personally or through
foundations he created—has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in
critical funding to medical research, education, and disadvantaged
children.  Mr. Milken’s philanthropy has been particularly influential
in the fight against prostate cancer and has been credited with saving
many lives.  This pardon has widespread and longstanding support,
including from the following individuals: Dr. Miriam Adelson, Sheldon
Adelson, David Bahnsen, Tom Barrack, Maria Bartiromo, Ron Burkle,
Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, William Ford, Josh Friedman,
Rudy Guiliani, Josh Harris, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Ray Irani, Robert Kraft,
Richard LeFrak, Randy Levine, Howard Lorber, Representative Kevin
McCarthy, Larry Mizel, Arte Moreno, Rupert Murdoch, Sean Parker, John
Paulson, Nelson Peltz, Steven Roth, David Rubenstein, Larry Ruvo, Marc
Stern, Steven Tananbaum, Ted Virtue, Andrew von Eschenbach, Mark
Weinberger, and Gary Winnick.

Ariel Friedler was a successful entrepreneur, and built
a successful technology company that employed more than 150 people and
served more than 41 million students, staff, employers, and government
constituents worldwide.  In 2014, while serving as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Friedler pled guilty to conspiracy
to access a protected computer without authorization and served 2
months in prison.  As a result of this incident, he was forced to sell
the company that he had dedicated his life to building.  During the
investigation, his time in prison, and after his release, Mr. Friedler
expressed deep remorse for his actions.  Since his release, Mr. Friedler
has volunteered his time and expertise to promoting veterans issues and
helping former prisoners reenter and rejoin society.  In recognition of
his rehabilitation, the State of Florida restored his license to
practice law.  Among those who support this grant of clemency are former
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Rabbi Katz of the Aleph
Institute.

Bernard Kerik courageously led the New York Police
Department’s heroic response to the horrific attacks of September 11,
2001, as Commissioner of the New York Police Department. He embodied the
strength, courage, compassion, and spirit of the people of New York and
this great Nation as he served alongside first responders at the World
Trade Center in the aftermath of the attack.  In 2010, Mr. Kerik was
sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment for tax fraud and for making false
statements.  Since his conviction, he has focused on improving the lives
of others, including as a passionate advocate for criminal justice and
prisoner reentry reform.  His 30 years of law enforcement service and
tenure as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction
have given him a unique understanding and perspective on criminal
justice and prisoner reentry reform, and he remains an invaluable
contributor to these endeavors.  Mr. Kerik is the recipient of countless
awards for meritorious and heroic service, including a Presidential
Commendation for Heroism from President Ronald Reagan. Among others,
this pardon is supported by Rudy Giuliani, Judge Andrew Napolitano,
Geraldo Rivera, Charlie Daniels, Chief Paul Cell, Judge Ray Reddin,
Former Chief of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department John Comparetto,
Representative Peter King, Christopher Ruddy, Chief and Mrs. Eddie
Gallagher, and Sidney Powell.

Paul Pogue was the owner of a successful construction
company and made significant charitable contributions every year.  An
audit by the Internal Revenue Service discovered that Mr. Pogue had
underpaid his taxes over a 3-year period by approximately 10 percent.
 Immediately upon learning of the tax deficiency, Mr. Pogue paid
restitution, interest, and penalties.  To avoid the cost and burden of
fighting the charges, which could have put at risk the jobs of the 150
people employed by his company, Mr. Pogue agreed to plead guilty and was
sentenced to 3 years of probation.  Despite his conviction, Mr. Pogue
never stopped his charitable work.  For more than 30 years, he has
provided significant humanitarian aid to countries around the world,
including Africa, India, and Mexico, all while continuing to help his
fellow Americans in times of need.  Mr. Pogue is the founder of two
non-profit organizations.  One constructs churches, clinics, schools,
and orphanages in developing countries.  The other provides disaster
relief to communities in need.  Following Hurricane Harvey, his charity
provided critical support to Texans rebuilding their lives in the wake
of the storm.  In addition, Mr. Pogue’s non-profit flies medical teams
into disaster areas and flies people in need of medical treatment to
doctors and hospitals.  Texas Attorney General Ken
Paxton, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Mike Buster, Steve
Dulin, Robert Morris, Jack Graham, and James Robison are among the many
people who support this grant of clemency. 

David Safavian has dedicated his life to criminal
justice reform after serving nearly a year in prison.  Mr. Safavian was
convicted of making false statements and of obstructing an investigation
into a trip he took while he was a senior government official.  Having
served time in prison and completed the process of rejoining society
with a felony conviction, Mr. Safavian is uniquely positioned to
identify problems with the criminal justice system and work to fix them.
 Mr. Safavian is a fierce advocate for policy changes that improve
public safety, protect families and victims, and reduce recidivism,
including the First Step Act, which provides prisoners with a second
chance through rehabilitative programs, fair sentencing, and smart
confinement.  The District of Columbia restored his license to practice
law, and his pardon is supported by several prominent individuals,
including Van Jones, Matt Schlapp, Mercedes Schlapp, Doug Deason, Mark
Holden, Topeka Sam, Dan Schneider, and Jessica Jackson. 

Angela Stanton overcame a difficult childhood to become
a champion for redemption and rehabilitation for all who strive for a
better life.  In 2007, she served a 6-month home confinement sentence
for her role in a stolen vehicle ring.  Today, Ms. Stanton is a national
best-selling author, widely acclaimed television personality, and
proponent of criminal justice reform. She works tirelessly to improve
reentry outcomes for people returning to their communities upon release
from prison, focusing on the critical role of families in the process.
 This pardon is supported by Alveda King. 

In light of the decisions these individuals have made following their
convictions to work to improve their communities and our Nation, the
President has determined that they are each deserving of full pardons.

In addition, the President is commuting the sentences of four
individuals who have paid their debts to society and have worked to
improve their lives and the lives of others while incarcerated. 

Rod Blagojevich was the Governor of Illinois from 2003
until 2009, when he was charged with, among other things, offering an
appointment to the United States Senate in exchange for campaign
contributions.  He was convicted of those charges and sentenced to 14
years in prison. Although the Seventh Circuit reversed some of his
convictions related to the Senate appointment, it did not alter his
14-year sentence.  He has spent 8 years in prison.  People from across
the political spectrum and from varied backgrounds have expressed
support for shortening Mr. Blagojevich’s sentence, including Senator
Dick Durbin, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., former Representative Bob
Barr, Representatives Bobby Rush and Danny Davis, former Attorney
General Eric Holder, and Bishop Byron Brazier.  Additionally, more than a
hundred of Mr. Blagojevich’s fellow inmates have written letters in
support of reducing his sentence.  During his confinement, Mr.
Blagojevich has demonstrated exemplary character, devoting himself to
improving the lives of his fellow prisoners.  He tutors and teaches GED
classes, mentors prisoners regarding personal and professional
development, and speaks to them about their civic duties.
 Notwithstanding his lengthy sentence, Mr. Blagojevich also counsels
inmates to believe in the justice system and to use their time in prison
for self-improvement.  His message has been to “keep faith, overcome
fear, and never give up.”

Tynice Nichole Hall is a 36-year-old mother who has
served nearly 14 years of an 18-year sentence for allowing her apartment
to be used to distribute drugs.  While in prison, Ms. Hall has
completed a number of job-training programs and apprenticeships, as well
as coursework towards a college degree.  In addition, Ms. Hall has
taught prison educational programs to other inmates.  She has accepted
responsibility for her past behavior and has worked hard to rehabilitate
herself. Among those who support this grant of clemency are Clemency
for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation, Alice Johnson, Dan
Schneider, Matt Whitaker, Adam Brandon, Kevin Roberts, Brett Tolman, and
John Hostettler.

Crystal Munoz has spent the past 12 years in prison as a
result of a conviction for having played a small role in a marijuana
smuggling ring.  During this time, she has mentored people working to
better their lives, volunteered with a hospice program, and demonstrated
an extraordinary commitment to rehabilitation.  The Texas A&M
Criminal Defense Clinic, the Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders
Foundation, Dan Schneider, Matt Whitaker, Adam Brandon, Kevin Roberts,
Brett Tolman, John Hostettler, and Alice Johnson are among the many who
support this grant of clemency.

Judith Negron is a 48-year-old wife and mother who was
sentenced to 35 years in prison for her role as a minority-owner of a
healthcare company engaged in a scheme to defraud the Federal
Government.  Ms. Negron has served 8 years of her sentence and has spent
this time working to improve her life and the lives of her fellow
inmates.  Her prison warden and her counselor have written letters in
support of clemency.  According to her warden, Ms. Negron “has always
shown herself to be a model inmate who works extremely well with others
and has established a good working relationship with staff and
inmates.”  This grant of clemency is supported by the Clemency for All
Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation, Dan Schneider, Matt Whitaker,
Adam Brandon, Kevin Roberts, Brett Tolman, John Hostettler, and Alice
Johnson, among others.