President Donald Trump is testing his pardoning powers once again. And this time he’s freeing Dinesh D’Souza, a conservative Christian activist and opponent of same-sex marriage who admitted to violating federal campaign laws in 2014.
It’s an interesting choice because D’Souza is an author with a history of high-profile scandals and controversial statements. He is known for having an affair while married (despite beating the drum of “family values”), as well as for saying ridiculous things, like that the majority of vocal atheists are “wounded theists” who simply hate God.
Despite D’Souza’s controversial past, and the fact that he admitted to unlawfully organizing donation to a Senate candidate in excess of the legal limit, Trump announced today he would pardon him.
“Will be giving a Full Pardon to Dinesh D’Souza today. He was treated very unfairly by our government!”
Will be giving a Full Pardon to Dinesh D’Souza today. He was treated very unfairly by our government!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2018
D’Souza was found guilty of a felony after he admitted to violating federal election laws, according to the Hill.
D’Souza pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign laws in 2014 and was convicted of a felony.
He had been charged with illegally organizing $10,000 campaign donations from two people for Wendy Long’s 2012 Senate bid against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). D’Souza and Long were friends at Dartmouth College, and he remained a supporter of Long when she ran as a Republican against Gillibrand.
Overall, this choice isn’t too surprising. Trump has a history of pardoning controversial figures on the right side of the political aisle, including Scooter Libby, the former aide to former Vice President Dick Cheney, and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. But he has to expect citizens who care about law and order to have a problem with Trump undermining the justice system for his friends.
The message that this sends is that, if you agree with Trump’s political outlook, then the law doesn’t apply to you.