Title: Trump’s Last-Minute Pardons Undermine Federal Investigations
On his final day in office, former President Donald Trump issued a controversial set of pardons, including one for Jonathan Braun, a convicted loan shark and marijuana ring leader. The move has drawn criticism and raised questions about potential ties to the Kushner family and its influence on the decision.
Braun, who was serving a 10-year sentence, was among 143 individuals granted clemency by Trump. The New York Times reported that the pardon undermined a federal investigation into predatory lenders in the merchant cash advance industry. Prosecutors were in negotiations with Braun and hoped to secure his cooperation in the investigation before his release, but the pardon eliminated that leverage.
During his time awaiting sentencing for the marijuana case, Braun allegedly offered predatory loans to small businesses and was accused of making violent threats to borrowers and their families, according to court documents. Furthermore, Braun’s company and two other companies were ordered by the court to cancel debt owed by small businesses and repay interest and overage charges amounting to tens of millions of dollars.
The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, claimed that Braun and others had been “harming small businesses through high-interest loans and undisclosed fees.” The Times also raised questions about Braun’s ties to the Kushner family, as he was a member of the inaugural class of the Kushner Yeshiva High School in New Jersey.
Allegations surfaced that Braun’s father, Jacob Braun, had reached out to Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, seeking support for Jonathan Braun’s pardon. Additionally, Trump ally Alan Dershowitz revealed that Jacob Braun regularly called him to plead for his son’s release. Federal investigators were reportedly unaware of the pardon until it was announced and were left furious, feeling that Trump’s actions sabotaged potential deals with Braun regarding predatory lending practices.
Braun, however, maintains his innocence and asserts that he has been unfairly targeted by the justice system. Meanwhile, Trump has indicated that if he returns to the presidency, he plans to issue more pardons, including for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The last-minute pardons by Trump have sparked outrage and fueled speculation about potential political influence in the justice system. As the controversial pardons continue to draw attention, the broader implications and repercussions of these decisions remain to be seen.