President Trump is issuing pardons today, starting with former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., who pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony in a bribery case, which led to a former Governor being sent to prison as reported by Breaking911.
He also plans to commute the sentence of Democrat Rod Blagojevich, who was charged for trying to sell former President Barack Obama’s old Senate seat when Obama was elected. This could lead to speculations that he may pardon more people, including those who may have been swept up in the Russia collusion Mueller investigation that ultimately exonerated President Trump.
President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday pardoning Eddie DeBartolo Jr., former owner of the San Francisco 49ers. DeBartolo pleaded guilty in 1998 to failing to report a felony in a bribery case, which led to former Louisiana Gov. Edwards getting sent to federal prison
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 18, 2020
BREAKING: President Trump is expected to commute the sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich – ABC News
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 18, 2020
ESPN reported on DeBartolo Jr.’s story which can be seen in part below:
President Donald Trump has pardoned Edward DeBartolo Jr., the former San Francisco 49ers owner convicted in a gambling fraud scandal.
DeBartolo, 73, who helped to build the 49ers’ dynasty of the 1980s and ’90s, was involved in one of the biggest owners’ scandals in the sport’s history.
In 1998, he pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony when he paid $400,000 to former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards in exchange for a riverboat gambling license.
The White House announced the surprise decision to reporters on Tuesday. NFL greats Jerry Rice, Jim Brown, Ronnie Lott and Charles Haley were in attendance.
DeBartolo, whose 49ers won five Super Bowls under his leadership, stepped down as owner in 1997 after two Louisiana newspapers reported he would be indicted for gambling fraud. He avoided prison, was fined $1 million and was suspended for a year by the NFL. But the episode effectively ended his NFL career.
President Trump originally hinted that he wanted to help Blagojevich in a tweet and it is now being reported that he plans to follow through.
Rod Blagojevich, the former Governor of Illinois, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He has served 7 years. Many people have asked that I study the possibility of commuting his sentence in that it was a very severe one. White House staff is continuing the review of this matter.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2019
