3BrNBBRz4UYdo+!~~60_7.JPG "chameleon54"){kind=avatar}
The outgoing leader has less than 12 hours left in office, issuing full pardons to 73 individuals and commuting the sentences of an additional 70 people in what will likely be his final act as president.
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
WHAT ABOUT ASSANGE AND SNOWDEN?
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Mr Trump had previously entertained pardons for Australian WikiLeaks founder Assange and mass surveillance whistleblower Snowden, but backed down reportedly due to pressure from Senate Republicans and the advice of White House counsel Pat Cipollone.
Assange is currently in the UK fighting extradition to the US to face espionage charges, which carry a maximum of 175 years in prison, while Snowden has been living in Russia ever since leaking troves of documents about the National Security Agencyโs highly secretive spying programs.
According to CNN, Mr Trump decided against pardons for the two men out of fear of angering Republicans who will soon decide whether he is convicted in his Senate impeachment trial.
