What to know about Trump's flurry of pardons
What to know about Trump's flurry of pardons

President Trump flexed the power of his office this week, issuing a blitz of pardons and commutations. The president also said he would consider pardoning the men convicted in a plot to kidnap Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Ali Bauman has more.
Read the full article on CBS Politics
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The CBS News article is mostly accurate, reporting on Trump's pardons and commutations. The claim about considering pardoning those involved in the Whitmer kidnapping plot is accurate. However, the article exhibits a slight bias by focusing on the controversial nature of the pardons.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim:** President Trump flexed the power of his office this week, issuing a blitz of pardons and commutations.
- Verification Source #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 all confirm that Trump issued a number of pardons and commutations.
- Claim:** The president also said he would consider pardoning the men convicted in a plot to kidnap Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
- This claim is not directly verified by the provided sources. However, it is widely known and reported by other news outlets (internal knowledge).
- Claim:** (Implied) The pardons are a significant event.
- Verification Source #2 suggests the pardons are significant, describing them as an effort to "redefine criminality." Verification Source #1 also highlights the number of clemency actions.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Verification Source #1: Confirms Trump commuted a gang leader's sentence as part of a "spree" of clemency actions.
- Verification Source #2: Highlights the potential implications of the pardons, suggesting they are being used to "redefine criminality."
- Verification Source #3: Provides a list of clemency grants issued by Trump.
- Verification Source #4: Mentions that some pardons were given to campaign contributors.
- Verification Source #5: Discusses the context of the pardons alongside other issues.
- The claim about considering pardoning those involved in the Whitmer kidnapping plot is not directly covered by the provided sources, but is widely reported elsewhere (internal knowledge).