JUSTICE FOR ALL? NOT QUITE

On Feb. 18, the president granted clemency to almost a dozen convicted criminals – a large majority of which were not just any kind of criminal.

Among them, for example, was David Safavian, former Republican lawyer and lobbist who was found guilty in 2009 and served a year in prison for obstructing an investigation and making false statements regarding a former fellow lobbyist, Jack Abramoff. Another was mental healthcare company partial-owner Judith Negron, responsible for her role in a $205 million Medicare fraud scandal.

These individuals, mostly people of wealthy and powerful standing, had previously been found guilty of financial wrongdoing and/or purposeful federal dereliction of duty. “White-collar crimes,” is how such acts are often described.

These offenses ranged from tax fraud to lying to government officials – and all but two of the persons had violated the law to better their self-interest, despite an already comfortable quality of life.

In granting a special kind of forgiveness to this particular demographic of culprit, Donald Trump has further revealed an attitude that waves away any sort of personal responsibility toward others, as long as the other hand is firmly grasping a fistful of cash.

One cannot adequately argue that white-collar crimes are, by any means, “victimless.” The combined influence these convicted persons wielded over an economy that affects hundreds of millions of people is astronomical, and the damage to citizens that comes with flaunting such an amount of economic power far exceeds the measly jail time and fines these wrongdoers were ordered to paid.

Two of those invididuals forgiven by Trump were serving far harsher sentences than were the privileged ones – incidentally both are women who were serving years of time for nonviolent, drug-related offenses. 

Tynice Nichole Hall, having served almost 14 years for crimes related to drug offense, and Crystal Munoz, who served 12 years for the same. Both women from far less fortuante backgrounds than the rest.

While it is ultimately good news that they are able to finally move on from these past transgressions, their tougher initial sentences further highlight a harsh dichotomy in a legal system that continues to punish the much less affluent, and favor the greedy.

For example, use of marijuana has seen sweeping legalization in numerous states across the country, and yet those previously incarcerated solely for possession charges remain behind bars – even while those guilty of far more destructive crimes are allowed to live freely.

Far more destructive crimes, yes, but ones that sound a lot less scandalous than “drug possession.” They’re merely “white-collar,” you see…

And yet, the results of such crimes carry much more weight upon the rest of the world’s shoulders. American economic processes having such an immense effect on global trade, after all.

This latest spree of pardonings proves to be just another public act of mercy from the president, nothing more than an act of showmanship meant to convey some sense of justice to observers.

In still prioritizing the lives and lifestyles of those most like himself, Donald Trump shows once again a disinterest in administering actual justice, after all.