00:00President Donald Trump has issued a series of pardons to several of his
00:09closest allies including former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former chief of
00:14staff Mark Meadows. The move also includes other figures accused of
00:19supporting Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential
00:23election. The pardons were confirmed by a Justice Department official and Ed Martin
00:29the government's pardon attorney shared a signed proclamation on social media it
00:35described the pardons as full complete and unconditional and named conservative
00:40attorneys Sidney Powell and John Eastman among those covered. Interestingly the
00:48proclamation makes clear that the pardons do not apply to Donald Trump himself
00:53presidential pardons of course are limited to federal offenses and none of the
00:57individuals named in this proclamation had been charged with federal crimes but
01:03the action is widely seen as part of Trump's ongoing efforts to reshape the
01:08narrative around the 2020 election which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. By granting
01:14these pardons Trump is signaling support for those who attempted to challenge or
01:19overturn the election results. Included in the list of pardoned individuals are
01:25Republicans who acted as so-called fake electors in key states during the 2020
01:31election. These individuals were involved in submitting certificates that falsely
01:36claimed Trump had won their states despite official results showing Joe Biden as the
01:41victor. The pardons issued by Trump however do not remove liability at the state
01:47level only for potential federal offenses. This set of pardons comes at a time of
01:54heightened scrutiny of Trump and his allies amid ongoing investigations into
01:59election interference and other legal matters. By acting decisively now Trump has
02:05drawn attention to the loyalty of his inner circle and the controversial nature of
02:10their actions during and after the 2020 election. The decision underscores a broader
02:16theme in Trump's post-presidential strategy, a focus on protecting allies, shaping historical
02:21narratives and maintaining influence over the Republican Party ahead of potential
02:26future campaigns. As this story continues to develop, analysts will be watching closely to
02:33see how these pardons influence public opinion, the ongoing legal landscape and the broader
02:39political climate in the United States.
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