Opinion : Letter to the Editor: “Da-Da-Da . . Dunt -Dun” . . . Dueling Pardons

Dear Editor

I gotta say that the Republican Party and President Trump owe the Democrat party a huge “THANKS!!!” for their 4-year lawfare battle to pin a FELONY  on Trump. 

Without their efforts, beginning with the fake “Insurrection” where all MAGA folks magically became “garbage” (I wear my Dark Maga cap with great pride) and continuing on through his “Loan Fraud” case – dismissed, his election fraud case in Georgia – thrown out, his Classified Documents” case in Florida – thrown out leading to the final and greatest success – a FELONY CONVICTION for 34ea 2016 misdemeanors of his accountant checking the box indicating that a payment to Stormey Daniels was actually made his attorney and while Trump indicated that the payment went to his attorney – who passed it on – this was FELONY material because . . . well, not sure that was ever explained. 

To add to the pleasure, the “crime” was actually beyond its statute of limitations yet was magically resurrected due to COVID!!  And then elevated to a FELONY because of . . . well basically . . . TRUMP!!  The trial was conducted in a district that was 85 percent Democrat (we don’t need no stinkin’ trial by our peers), by a Judge that ran his reelection campaign on “getting Trump” and brought by DA Alvin Brag who also ran on the platform of “getting Trump”.   They did, of course . . . 34 separate checks to Stormy Daniels, 34 checkboxes and all elevated to a FELONY!!!  Thank God Almighty . . . they got’im.  And, in so doing . . . virtually guaranteed his reelection. 

ALL that said, it’s the pardons for other FAKE FELONIES, I want to contrast and compare.  While there were a handful of events on January 6th that may have risen to that state, those arrested were placed in a position where their 6th Amendment right to a speedy trial and the right to counsel were decimated.  They were only allowed attorneys that were recognized by the DC courts – if they weren’t DC certified, they could not represent anyone arrested on January 6th.  Add to that their costs more than $100K – many of the 87 “convicted” took plea deals.  Of the 1,500 arrested 4 years ago, only 87 have been tried.  The remaining have been held without bail for 4 years.  Speedy Trial . . .????  Not so much. 

Add to that the fact that many "Felonies” were facilitated by Capital Police removing barricades, opening doors, and escorting folks through the Capital . . . only to have the FBI arrest them months later as their faces were picked up on camera as they walked around and through the capital.  For example, Jacob Chansley – the QAnon Shaman made famous by his headdress was arrested and charged.  There is footage of the Capitol Police escorting him through the Capitol and even opening some doors for him.  Still, he was sentenced to 41 months in prison.  He was finally moved to Arizona and eventually released for “good behavior”.  Yet, through all the video there was no effort on the part of the Capitol Police to remove him – nor were attempts made to remove any of the other folks they escorted. 

There are literally hundreds of similar stories – folks walking across the Capitol steps and being arrested and jailed.  Not tried, not given their day in court . . . but simply held.

Do they deserve pardons . . . for being arrested for walking across the steps of the capital, for being guided by the capitol police through the capital, for walking around barriers the capitol police removed ???  The answer is obvious.

Trump issued 1500 pardons.  Of those arrested nearly 1,400 were still being held waiting for their day in court . . . 4 years later.  They deserve release just on that little tidbit alone.

Let’s compare that to the 8,500 pardons of Joe. 

The most egregious was the BLANKET pardon Hunter.  The FELONY he committed that I am most interested in is placing his signature on ATF form 4473 while purchasing a handgun stating that he had never used drugs.  That’s up to 5 years in jail . . . PERIOD.  I’ve signed more than a few 4473s in my life.  I was fully aware, each time, of the consequences of lying on the form . . . just as Hunter was. (let’s not even talk about the packet of Coke found in the Whitehouse.)  But a BLANKET pardon covers everything throughout his lifetime. Including any crimes involving his taxes.  Huh . . . quite a sweet deal. 

And let’s not forget the FAMILY pardon 15 minutes before Trump was sworn in.  That should cover the 10 of millions the family received from China, and the Ukrainian and Russian oligarchs.  The pardon was also extended to the Capitol Police for their actions on January 6th  – including Lt. Michael Byrd who murdered Ashli Babbitt on January 6th.   I say “murder” because in any fatal shooting 4 conditions MUST be met for the trigger to be pulled.  The person must have the ABILITY to kill the person pulling the trigger at the instant the trigger is pulled.  They must have the OPPORTUNITY to kill the person pulling the trigger (in other words be close enough to get the job done), and the person pulling the trigger must believe they are in JEOPARDY of losing their life at the instant they pulled the trigger and this is to the PRECLUSION of any other things they could do to avoid being killed by the person they shot.  Ashli Babbitt was 30+ feet away from a barricaded Byrd and unarmed.  He shot her to death.  She had no ability to harm him, she was totally unarmed.  She was too far away to have the opportunity to harm him.  She was not an existential threat to him, and he was barricaded behind a door to the Senate chamber.  He murdered her.  But he’s good now since he received a full pardon for any of his actions on January 6th from Biden.

Of course, Biden's family and the Capitol Police represent a drop in the bucket of Biden’s flood of 8,500+ pardons and commutations – more than any president in history.

Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, converting their sentences to life in prison without parole.  These included:

-Kaboni Savage, convicted for the deaths of 12 people, including four children, in a firebombing incident ordered from prison.  

-Thomas Sanders, convicted of kidnapping and murdering 12-year-old Lexis Roberts after she witnessed him shooting her mother. 

-Ann Jorge Avila-Torrez, convicted of the sexual assault and murder of two young girls and a naval officer.  

Any outcry about these???  Buhler????  Buhler????  Besides Hunter he pardoned many others with non-violent drug offenses, with the White House highlighting their rehabilitation and contributions to society post-conviction.

The difference between the two Presidents?  Trump showed compassion for a large number of people that were arrested to simply make a point . . . don’t question the election, don’t question your government, don’t question Biden and don’t question our actions.

Biden’s reasons . . . to protect his family, 37 convicted killers and others I suspect he has no conscious memory of simply because his handlers wanted to give the American people the giant “Finger” as they left office.

Honestly, I want to thank them.  It was a remarkable “lowering of their guard” to provide a glimpse of the modern-day Democrat party.  It’s not pretty . . . and that glimpse will prove useful in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 election as well.  Here’s hoping their current mindset doesn’t change.

Respectfully,

Bill Keller