Giuliani associate: Trump’s presidential pardon costs $2M

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• According to the New York Times, Rudy Giuliani’s associate told former CIA officer John Kiriakou that President Donald Trump’s pardon would cost $2 million.
• Giuliani rebuked Kiriakou’s statements, saying that there was no such thing.
• Trump has granted pardons mostly for his allies.

A revelation reported by the New York Times on Sunday suggested that an associate of President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani told a former CIA officer that a presidential pardon was worth “$2 million.”

After being imprisoned in 2012 for divulging an operative’s identity involved in torture, former CIA officer John Kiriakou told the Times that he just laughed off Giuliani’s associate’s remarks.

“Two million bucks – are you out of your mind? Even if I had two million bucks, I wouldn’t spend it to recover a $700,000 pension,” Kiriakou reportedly said.

The Times said that Kiriakou’s associate reported the exchange to the FBI.

In his pursuit for a presidential pardon, Kiriakou told the Times that such a quest was brought up last year during a meeting with Giuliani but for a different topic. The meeting was held at the Trump International Hotel in Washington.

In a reportedly alcohol-involved discussion, Kiriakou said that Giuliani’s unnamed associate addressed him that it was “going to cost $2M, he’s going to want two million bucks.” Giuliani was in the bathroom when the conversation took place.

Giuliani, though, shunned Kiriakou’s story, arguing that he doesn’t work as a pardon broker since he’s already employed as Trump’s legal counsel.

“It’s like a conflict of interest,” said the former New York mayor who reportedly would also be granted pardon, adding that he already has “enough money” and not “starving.”

The disclosure reportedly involved various cases of money-making schemes as several people have sought a pardon before the president leaves the White House. Trump, who has been impeached twice, is set to step down on Wednesday as President-elect Joe Biden officially swears into office.

A presidential pardon is typically given to a repentant offender. Presidents have implored its use to reward allies. Trump, however, has made pardons to a level beyond expectations.

Some of the key individuals who received pardons from Trump were Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to the FBI after lying about Russian dealings; Roger Stone, Trump’s former campaign adviser who faced numerous charges which included lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice; Paul Manafort, another former campaign manager who pleaded guilty over the Russian investigation; and Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was charged with tax fraud and witness retaliation.

The Times also reported an ‘ad hoc’ White House system managed by Jared, that deviates the typical “intensive justice department review process intended to identify and vet the most deserving recipients from among thousands of clemency applications.”

Source: The Guardian