Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty
With Donald Trump’s penchant for doling out so many presidential pardons to his uniquely troublesome circle of friends on his way out of the White House, it was only a matter of time until those presidential pals tested the value of their Get Out of Jail Free cards.
A case in Washington, D.C., is now highlighting the consequences of Trump’s messy pardons—and calling into question whether mercy handed out as a political favor has a limited shelf life.
“It’s not an exoneration exactly. It’s not like wiping a crime off the books entirely. It’s very valuable—as long as you don’t get in trouble again,” said David Levine, a professor at the University of California College of the Law San Francisco.