Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2020 Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency   Today, President Donald J. Trump granted Full Pardons to 15 individuals and commuted part or all of the sentences of an additional 5 individuals.   Alfonso Costa — President Trump granted a full pardon to Alfonso Costa, a dentist from Pittsburgh.  Dr. Costa’s request for clemency was supported by Dr. Ben Carson and Jerome Bettis, as well as by numerous business associates, patients, and community leaders from Pittsburgh.  Dr. Costa pled guilty to one count of health care fraud related to false billing, took full responsibility for his conduct, served two years of probation, and paid nearly $300,000 in fines and restitution.  He has devoted much of his adult life to service to his community, including serving on the board of the Pittsburgh Opera, and doing significant service for children and the underprivileged.     Alfred Lee Crum — President Trump granted Alfred Lee Crum a full pardon.  Mr. Crum, who is now 89, pled guilty in 1952—when he was 19 years old—to helping his wife’s uncle illegally distill moonshine in Oklahoma.  Mr. Crum served three years of probation, and paid a $250 fine.  Mr. Crum has maintained a clean record and a strong marriage for nearly 70 years, attended the same church for 60 years, raised four children, and regularly participated in charity fundraising events.  Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma Brian Kuester supported Mr. Crum’s request for a pardon.   Crystal Munoz — Today, President Trump commuted Crystal Munoz’s remaining term of supervised release, having previously commuted her sentence of incarceration after she had served 12 years in prison.  Alice Johnson, the Texas A&M Criminal Defense Clinic, and the Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation are among the many who supported clemency for Ms. Munoz.  Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President’s further act of clemency today. Ms. Munoz was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana based on her role in a marijuana smuggling ring.  During her time in prison, she mentored people working to better their lives, volunteered with a hospice program, and demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to rehabilitation.   Tynice Nichole Hall — President Trump has commuted the remainder of Tynice Nichole Hall’s term of supervised release.  He previously commuted her term of incarceration after she had served nearly 14 years of an 18-year sentence for allowing her apartment to be used to distribute drugs.  Alice Johnson, The Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation, and The Ladies of Hope Ministries are among the many who supported clemency for Ms. Hall. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President’s further act of clemency today. While in prison, Ms. Hall completed a number of job-training programs and apprenticeships, as well as coursework towards a college degree.  In addition, Ms. Hall taught prison educational programs to other inmates.  She has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has worked hard to rehabilitate herself.    Judith Negron — President Trump has today commuted the remainder of Judith Negron’s term of supervised release.  He previously commuted her term of incarceration after she had served 8 years of her sentence.  Alice Johnson, the Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders Foundation, Change.org, and the Warden at Aliceville Federal Correctional Institution have all supported clemency for Ms. Negron.  Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi supports the President’s further act of clemency today. Ms. Negron is a wife and mother who was sentenced to 35 years for her role as a minority-owner of a healthcare company engaged in a scheme to defraud the Federal Government.  During her incarceration, Ms. Negron dedicated her time to improving her life as well as the lives of her fellow inmates.  She completed hundreds of hours of educational programs, served as a tutor, and mentored other inmates.  Her acts of selflessness won her the praise of her prison warden.   Steve Stockman — Today, President Trump commuted the remaining prison sentence of Steve Stockman.  Former Representatives Bob McEwen and Bob Barr, along with James Dobson and L. Brent Bozell are among the many public figures who have called for Mr. Stockman’s release from incarceration on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.  Mr. Stockman is 64 and has underlying pre-existing health conditions that place his health at greater risk during the COVID epidemic, and he has already contracted COVID while in prison.  Mr. Stockman, who was twice a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Texas’s 9th congressional district from 1995 to 1997 and Texas’s 36th congressional district from 2013 to 2015, was convicted in 2018 of misuse of charitable funds.  Mr. Stockman has served more than two years of his ten-year sentence and will remain subject to a period of supervised release and an order requiring that he pay more than $1,000,000 in restitution.        Duncan Hunter – At the request of many Members of Congress, President Trump granted a full pardon to Duncan Hunter.  His pardon is also supported by former Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission Bradley Smith. Mr. Hunter has dedicated much of his adult life to public service.  Mr. Hunter represented California’s 50th Congressional District from 2013 to 2020.  Prior to his time in Congress, Mr. Hunter was an officer in the United States Marine Corps.  Inspired to enlist after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mr. Hunter saw combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan.   In 2019, Mr. Hunter pled guilty to one count of misusing campaign funds, an offense that could have been handled as a civil case via the Federal Election Commission, according to former FEC Commissioner Bradley Smith.  He was sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment set to begin in January 2021.   Chris Collins – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Chris Collins, at the request of many Members of Congress. Mr. Collins served in Congress for nearly seven years, representing the people of Western New York from 2013 to 2019.  Mr. Collins spent his early career as a successful businessman and entrepreneur, before devoting his life to public service.  In 2007, Mr. Collins was elected County Executive for Erie County, New York, a position he held for one four-year term, and in 2012 the people of New York’s 27th congressional district elected Mr. Collins to the U.S. House of Representatives.  He was subsequently re-elected to this seat three times.  During his tenure in Congress, Mr. Collins was known for his particular focus on the wellbeing of small businesses, agriculture, and sciences.  In 2019, Mr. Collins pled guilty to the charges of conspiring to commit securities fraud and making false statements to the FBI.  Mr. Collins is currently serving his 26-month sentence.   Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean – Today, President Trump granted full pardons to Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. These former Border Patrol Agents have been supported by one hundred members of Congress, including Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Steve King, Rep. Ted Poe, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Brian Babin, as well as the U.S. Border Control Foundation and the Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund. Mr. Ramos participates in numerous community activities and charities, and Mr. Compean is active in his local church. Both men served as Border Patrol Agents and put themselves in harm’s way to help secure our southern border with Mexico.  On one such occasion in 2005, they stopped an illegal alien trafficking 700 pounds of marijuana. When the illegal alien—who was thought to be armed—resisted arrest, Mr. Ramos shot the suspect, who fled back across the border.  For this, Mr. Ramos and Mr. Compean were charged and convicted of assault, using a firearm during a crime of violence, and deprivation of civil rights.  After they were sentenced to 11 and 12 years imprisonment, respectively, their case gained widespread attention. One hundred members of Congress, as well as the organizations above, supported Mr. Ramos’ and Mr. Compean’s release from prison. The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the excessive sentence imposed on the former agents. And President George W. Bush ultimately commuted these sentences with strong bipartisan support.   George Papadopoulos – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to George Papadopoulos.  Mr. Papadopoulos was charged with a process-related crime, one count of making false statements, in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.  Notably, Mueller stated in his report that he found no evidence of collusion in connection with Russia’s attempts to interfere in the election.  Nonetheless, the Special Counsel’s team still charged Mr. Papadopoulos with this process-related crime.  At the time that Mr. Papadopoulos allegedly made the false statements, he was not represented by counsel, and, after he was arrested, Mr. Papadopoulos gave additional information on his prior statements to the Special Counsel. Today’s pardon helps correct the wrong that Mueller’s team inflicted on so many people.   Alex van der Zwaan – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Alex van der Zwaan.  His pardon is supported by former Rep. Trey Gowdy. Mr. van der Zwaan was charged with a process-related crime, one count of making false statements, in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. None of his underlying conduct was alleged to have been unlawful, nor did prosecutors note any prior criminal history. Mr. van der Zwaan is a Dutch national who voluntarily returned to the United States to correct his statements and surrendered his passport upon entry.   Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard – Today, President Trump granted full pardons to Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard.  The pardon of these four veterans is broadly supported by the public, including Pete Hegseth, and elected officials such as Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Ralph Norman, Rep. Bill Flores, Rep. Brian Babin, Rep. Michael Burgess, Rep. Daniel Webster, Rep. Steve King, and Rep. Ted Yoho. Mr. Slatten, Mr. Slough, Mr. Liberty, and Mr. Heard have a long history of service to the Nation.  Mr. Slatten was inspired to serve his country after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and served two tours in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division.  Mr. Slough served in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq with his National Guard unit.  Mr. Liberty served in the United States Marine Corps and protected United States Embassies abroad.  Mr. Heard served in the United States Marine Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom. These veterans were working in Iraq in 2007 as security contractors responsible for securing the safety of United States personnel. When the convoy attempted to establish a blockade outside the “Green Zone,” the situation turned violent, which resulted in the unfortunate deaths and injuries of Iraqi civilians. Initial charges against the men were dismissed, but they were eventually tried and convicted on charges ranging from first degree murder to voluntary manslaughter. On appeal, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that additional evidence should have been presented at Mr. Slatten’s trial. Further, prosecutors recently disclosed—more than 10 years after the incident—that the lead Iraqi investigator, who prosecutors relied heavily on to verify that there were no insurgent victims and to collect evidence, may have had ties to insurgent groups himself.   Weldon Angelos – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Weldon Angelos.  Mr. Angelos’ pardon is supported by Senator Mike Lee, Senator Rand Paul, Alice Johnson, former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, and others. Mr. Angelos is an active criminal justice reform advocate and champion of giving second chances. Because of mandatory minimums, Mr. Angelos was sentenced in 2002 to 55 years’ imprisonment for selling marijuana and carrying a handgun in the course of dealing.  The presiding judge called this excessive sentence “unjust and cruel and even irrational.”  Mr. Angelos was eventually released by judicial order after serving 13 years in prison, and committed to changing the world for the better through criminal justice reform advocacy. His story has been cited as an inspiration for sentencing reform, including the First Step Act, and he participated in a Prison Reform Summit at the White House in 2018.  In his own words, Mr. Angelos wants “to become whole again and put the bad choices in the past and continue changing the world for the better.”   Philip Lyman – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Philip Lyman.  Mr. Lyman’s pardon is supported by Senator Mike Lee, Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz, and other notable members of the Utah community. Mr. Lyman is known to be a man of integrity and character who was serving as a county commissioner in Utah when he was subjected to selective prosecution for protesting the Bureau of Land Management’s closure of the Recapture Canyon to ATV riders.  He had no other criminal history, but he was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in prison and nearly $96,000 in restitution.    Otis Gordon – Today, President Trump granted a full pardon to Otis Gordon.  Mr. Gordon’s pardon is supported by Senator Tim Scott.  Mr. Gordon has become a Pastor at Life Changer’s International Ministries since his conviction for possession with intent to distribute. In 2015, in the wake of the shooting at a Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina, Mr. Gordon led a prayer session at the United States Capitol. Mr. Gordon mentors at-risk youths in his community.  Senator Tim Scott describes Mr. Gordon as “a model citizen” since his release and “focused on helping young men avoid the same traps he once fell in.”   Philip Esformes – Today, President Trump commuted the term of imprisonment of Philip Esformes, while leaving the remaining aspects of his sentence, including supervised release and restitution, intact.  This commutation is supported by former Attorneys General Edwin Meese and Michael Mukasey, as well as former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson.  In addition, former Attorneys General Edwin Meese, John Ashcroft, and Alberto Gonzalez, as well as other notable legal figures such as Ken Starr, have filed in support of his appeal challenging his conviction on the basis of prosecutorial misconduct related to violating attorney-client privilege. While in prison, Mr. Esformes, who is 52, has been devoted to prayer and repentance and is in declining health.

Proclamation to Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2020 TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS UNDER THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION        1.  In Proclamation 8618 of December 21, 2010, the President determined that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the "Trade Act"), as added by section 111(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (the "AGOA")(title I of Public Law 106–200, 114 Stat. 251, 257-58 (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1))).  Thus, pursuant to section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)), the President terminated the designation of the DRC as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act.      2.  Section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act authorizes the President to designate a country listed in section 107 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3706) as a "beneficiary sub-Saharan African country" if the President determines that the country meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3703), as well as the eligibility criteria set forth in section 502 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2462).      3.  Pursuant to section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act, based on actions that the Government of the DRC has taken, I have determined that the DRC meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA and the eligibility criteria set forth in section 502 of the Trade Act, and I have determined to designate the DRC as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.      4.  Section 112(c) of the AGOA, as amended in section 6002 of the Africa Investment Incentive Act of 2006 (division D of title VI of Public Law 109–432, 120 Stat. 2922, 3190–93 (19 U.S.C. 3721(c))), provides special rules for certain apparel articles imported from "lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries."      5.  I have also determined that the DRC satisfies the criterion for treatment as a "lesser developed beneficiary sub‑Saharan African country" under section 112(c) of the AGOA.      6.  On April 22, 1985, the United States and Israel entered into the Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel (the "USIFTA"), which the Congress approved in section 3 of the United States–Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (the "USIFTA Act") (Public Law 99-47, 99 Stat. 82 (19 U.S.C. 2112 note)).      7.  Section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act provides that, whenever the President determines that it is necessary to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, the President may proclaim such withdrawal, suspension, modification, or continuance of any duty, or such continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or such additional duties, as the President determines to be required or appropriate to carry out the USIFTA.      8.  In order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to agricultural trade with Israel, on July 27, 2004, the United States entered into an agreement with Israel concerning certain aspects of trade in agricultural products during the period January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2008 (the "2004 Agreement").      9.  In Proclamation 7826 of October 4, 2004, consistent with the 2004 Agreement, the President determined, pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, that, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, it was necessary to provide duty-free access into the United States through December 31, 2008, for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel.      10.  Each year from 2008 through 2019, the United States and Israel entered into agreements to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement was in force for 1-year periods to allow additional time for the two governments to conclude an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement.      11.  To carry out the extension agreements, the President in Proclamation 8334 of December 31, 2008; Proclamation 8467 of December 23, 2009; Proclamation 8618 of December 21, 2010; Proclamation 8770 of December 29, 2011; Proclamation 8921 of December 20, 2012; Proclamation 9072 of December 23, 2013; Proclamation 9223 of December 23, 2014; Proclamation 9383 of December 21, 2015; Proclamation 9555 of December 15, 2016; Proclamation 9687 of December 22, 2017; Proclamation 9834 of December 21, 2018; and Proclamation 9974 of December 26, 2019, modified the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ("HTS") to provide duty-free access into the United States for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel, each time for an additional 1-year period.      12.  On December 3, 2020, the United States entered into an agreement with Israel to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement is in force through December 31, 2021, and to allow for further negotiations on an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement.      13.  Pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act, I have determined that it is necessary, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, to provide duty-free access into the United States through the close of December 31, 2021, for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel, as provided in Annex I of this proclamation.      14.  Section 604 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2483) authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the substance of the relevant provisions of that Act, and of other Acts affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.       15.  The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, as amended (the "CBERA"), (title II of Public Law 98-67, 97 Stat. 384 (19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.)), instituted a duty preference program that applies to a product of a Caribbean Basin country that has been designated by the President as a beneficiary country.  On October 10, 2020, the President signed into law the Extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (Public Law 116-164, 134 Stat. 758), which extends certain preferential tariff treatment accorded under the CBERA to September 30, 2030.  I have determined, pursuant to section 604 of the Trade Act, that it is necessary to modify the HTS to reflect the extension of the CBERA.       16.  On August 21, 2020, in accordance with section 103(a)(2) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (the "Trade Priorities Act") (title I of Public Law 114-26, 129 Stat. 319, 333 (19 U.S.C. 4202(a)(2))), I notified the Congress that I intended to enter into an agreement regarding tariff barriers with the European Union under section 103(a) of the Trade Priorities Act.  On November 20, 2020, the United States entered into such an agreement with the European Union.       17.  Section 103(a)(1) of the Trade Priorities Act authorizes the President to proclaim such modification of any existing duty as the President determines to be required or appropriate to carry out a trade agreement entered into under section 103(a).  The President generally may proclaim such modification provided that the modification does not reduce the rate of duty to a rate that is less than 50 percent of the rate of such duty that applied on June 29, 2015; does not reduce the rate of duty below that applicable under the Uruguay Round Agreements or a successor agreement on any import-sensitive agricultural product; and does not increase the rate of duty above the rate of such duty that applied on June 29, 2015.         18.  Pursuant to section 103(a) of the Trade Priorities Act, I have determined that it is required and appropriate to modify existing duties with respect to certain goods to carry out the agreement regarding tariff barriers with the European Union for such time as the European Union carries out the agreement.      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, acting under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 506A(a)(1) and section 604 of the Trade Act; sections 111(a) and 112(c) of the AGOA; section 6002 of the Africa Investment Incentive Act of 2006; section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act; and section 103(a) of the Trade Priorities Act, do proclaim that:      (1)  The DRC is designated as a beneficiary sub‑Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A of the Trade Act.      (2)  In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note 16(a) to the HTS is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence in the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries "Democratic Republic of the Congo".      (3)  For purposes of section 112(c) of the AGOA, the DRC is a lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.      (4)  In order to provide the tariff treatment intended under section 112(c) of the AGOA, note 2(d) to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence in the list of lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries "Democratic Republic of the Congo".      (5)  The modifications to the HTS set forth in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this proclamation shall be effective with respect to articles that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2021.      (6)  In order to implement United States tariff commitments under the 2004 Agreement through December 31, 2021, the HTS is modified as provided in Annex I of this proclamation.      (7)  The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex I of this proclamation shall be effective with respect to eligible agricultural products of Israel that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2021.        (8)  The provisions of subchapter VIII of chapter 99 of the HTS, as modified by Annex I of this proclamation, shall continue in effect through December 31, 2021.      (9)  In order to reflect in the HTS the provisions of the extension of the CBERA, general note 17(f)(i) is modified by deleting "September 30, 2020" and inserting, in lieu thereof, "September 30, 2030".      (10)  In order to modify duties on certain goods to carry out the agreement regarding tariff barriers with the European Union, the HTS is modified as set forth in Annex II to this proclamation.      (11)  The modifications to the HTS set forth in Annex II to this proclamation shall enter into effect on the dates indicated in Annex II and remain in effect until the date on which the European Union ceases to carry out the agreement, as determined by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in a notice published in the Federal Register.  The HTS shall be modified to revert to the duty rate in effect on July 31, 2020, for each subheading identified in Annex II, effective on that date as determined by the USTR.  The USTR shall publish notice of such a determination in the Federal Register.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

Memorandum on the Attorney General's Authority to Use Classified Information in Connection with Review of Intelligence Activities

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2020 December 18, 2020   MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE                THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY                THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE                 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL                THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY                THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY                THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE                THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE                AGENCY               SUBJECT:    Attorney General's Authority to Use Classified Information in Connection with Review of Intelligence Activities Relating to the 2016 Presidential Campaigns By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following:       Section 1.  Authority of the Attorney General.  The Attorney General is currently conducting a review of intelligence activities relating to the campaigns in the 2016 Presidential election and certain related matters.  On May 13, 2019, the Attorney General directed John Durham to conduct that review, which subsequently developed into a criminal investigation.  On October 19, 2020, the Attorney General appointed Mr. Durham to conduct that investigation pursuant to the powers and independence afforded by the Special Counsel regulations of the Department of Justice.     In a memorandum of May 23, 2019, I directed the heads of elements of the intelligence community, as defined in 50 U.S.C. 3003(4), and the heads of each department or agency that includes an element of the intelligence community, to assist the Attorney General in connection with that review, and authorized the Attorney General to declassify, downgrade, or direct the declassification or downgrading of information or intelligence that relates to his review.  In addition, the Attorney General is authorized to use classified information as he deems necessary in connection with his review, including in a grand jury or other proceeding.        Sec. 2.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:           (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or          (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.     (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.     (c)  The authority in this memorandum shall terminate upon the conclusion of the Special Counsel's investigation, unless expressly extended by the President.  In addition, the authority of the Attorney General under the May 23, 2019, memorandum is hereby extended to terminate only upon the conclusion of the Special Counsel's investigation, unless expressly extended by the President.       (d)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                         DONALD J. TRUMP

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2020 President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:   Pam Bondi, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.   Edward McMullen, Jr., of South Carolina, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.   Paolo Zampolli, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.   Hope Charlotte Hicks, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.   Derek S. Lyons, of Texas, to be a Member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.   Amy Hanson Swonger, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.   Richard Grenell, of California, to be a Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.   Martin Oliner, of New York, to be a Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.   Susan Levine, of Arizona, to be a Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.   Tim Pataki, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution.   Stephanie Grisham, of Arizona, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences.   Jeremy Carl, of Montana, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences.   Russell Vought, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy.   Alexander B. Gray, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the Coast Guard Academy.   Francis John Brooke, Jr., of Virginia, to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Merchant Marine Academy.   Steven W. Spandle, of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Commission on Fine Arts.   Chas Fagan, of North Carolina, to be a Member of the Commission on Fine Arts.   Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., of Georgia, to be a Member of the Commission on Fine Arts.   Perry Guillot, of New York, to be a Member of the Commission on Fine Arts.   Ezra Cohen, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member and Chairperson of the Public Interest Declassification Board.   Julie Strauss, of Virginia, to be a Member of the President’s Advisory 1776 Commission.   Peter Lamelas, MD, of Florida, to be a Member of the Medal of Valor Review Board.   Gregory Smith, of Utah, to be the United States Commissioner of the Upper Colorado River Commission.   Buffie Anderson, of Texas, to be a Member of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.   Kurt A. Kondrich, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.   Kristin Yodock, of California, to be a Member of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.   Marcus David Bachmann, of Minnesota, to be a Member of the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.   Norma Thompson, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the National Museum and Library Services Board.   Jennie Stapp, of Montana, to be a Member of the National Museum and Library Services Board.   Guy Pinkman, of Nebraska, to be a Member of the Advisory Committee to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.   Lynn Franzoi, of California, to be a Member of the Advisory Committee to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.   Preston Crabill, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Advisory Committee to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.   Sheriff Grady Judd, of Florida, to be a Member of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.   Michael J. Gableman, of Wisconsin, to be a Member of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.   Von L. Best, of Texas, to be a Member of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.   Rachel Fulton Brown, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee.   Jenni Sue Jessen, of Colorado, to be a Member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.   Kwami P. Adoboe-Herrera, of Ohio, to be a Member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.   Katherine McGibbon, of Texas, to be a Member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.   Ethan Baker, of Michigan, to be a Commissioner of the United States Section on the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.   Carrie Castille, of Louisiana, to be Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.   Juan Carlos Benítez, of Guam, to be a Member of the President’s Export Council.

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020

On Monday, December 21, 2020, the President signed into law:         H.R. 2246, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 West Cherokee Street in Brookhaven, Mississippi, as the Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White Memorial Post Office Building;   H.R. 2454, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 East Sharpfish Street in Rosebud, South Dakota, as the Ben Reifel Post Office Building;   H.R. 2969, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1401 1st Street North in Winter Haven, Florida, as the Althea Margaret Daily Mills Post Office Building;   H.R. 3005, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13308 Midland Road in Poway, California, as the Ray Chavez Post Office Building;   H.R. 3275, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 340 Wetmore Avenue in Grand River, Ohio, as the Lance Corporal Andy "Ace" Nowacki Post Office;   H.R. 3680, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 415 North Main Street in Henning, Tennessee, as the Paula Croom Robinson and Judy Spray Memorial Post Office Building;   H.R. 3847, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 117 West Poythress Street in Hopewell, Virginia, as the Reverend Curtis West Harris Post Office Building;   H.R. 3870, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 511 West 165th Street in New York, New York, as the Normandia Maldonado Post Office Building;   H.R. 4034, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 602 Pacific Avenue in Bremerton, Washington, as the John Henry Turpin Post Office Building;   H.R. 4200, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 321 South 1st Street in Montrose, Colorado, as the Sergeant David Kinterknecht Post Office;   H.R. 4279, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 445 Main Street in Laceyville, Pennsylvania, as the Melinda Gene Piccotti Post Office;   H.R. 4672, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 21701 Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino, California, as the Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson Post Office Building;   H.R. 4725, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8585 Criterion Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the Chaplain (Capt.) Dale Goetz Memorial Post Office Building;   H.R. 4785, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1305 U.S. Highway 90 West in Castroville, Texas, as the Lance Corporal Rhonald Dain Rairdan Post Office;   H.R. 4875, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2201 E. Maple Street in North Canton, Ohio, as the Lance Cpl. Stacy "Annie" Dryden Post Office;   H.R. 4971, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15 East Market Street in Leesburg, Virginia, as the Norman Duncan Post Office Building;   H.R. 5317, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 315 Addicks Howell Road in Houston, Texas, as the Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office Building;   H.R. 5954, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 West Maple Street in Holly, Michigan, as the Holly Veterans Memorial Post Office; and   S. 4902, which designate the United States courthouse located at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse.

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 22, 2020

On Tuesday, December 22, 2020, the President signed into law:     H.R. 1520, the “Further Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021,” which provides fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations to Federal agencies through Monday, December 28, 2020, for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government.

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2020 Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency Today, President Donald J. Trump granted Full Pardons to 26 individuals and commuted part or all of the sentences of an additional 3 individuals. James Kassouf — President Trump granted a full pardon to James Kassouf. This pardon is supported by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Representative David Joyce, Representative Darrell Issa, Pastor Darrell Scott, and many friends in Northeast Ohio. Mr. Kassouf pled guilty in 1989 to one count of filing a false tax return. Since his conviction, he has devoted extensive time and resources to supporting causes such as Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and his local church and fire department. Mr. Kassouf’s pastor, who also writes in support of today’s action, highlights Mr. Kassouf’s “vision” to make his community a better place. Mr. Kassouf is dedicated to revitalizing the city of Cleveland and has been intensely involved in the Northeast Ohio community. Mary McCarty — President Trump granted Mary McCarty a full pardon. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Christopher Ruddy are among those supportive of Ms. McCarty. Ms. McCarty was a longtime public servant in Palm Beach, Florida, serving as one of its County Commissioners. In 2009, she pled guilty to one count of honest services fraud. The Supreme Court has since interpreted that statute more narrowly, meaning that Ms. McCarty’s conduct might not be criminally prosecuted today. Christopher Wade — President Trump granted a full pardon to Christopher Wade. Wade’s pardon is supported by Isaac Perlmutter, Mark Templeton, and numerous current and former law-enforcement officials. Mr. Wade served two years’ probation after pleading guilty to various cyber-crimes. Since his conviction, he has shown remorse and sought to make his community a safer place. Christopher II X, formerly Christopher Anthony Bryant — President Trump granted a full pardon to Christopher II X, a prominent community leader. This Federal pardon is supported by Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky as well as Tori Murden McClure, the President of Spalding University, among others. Mr. II X is a powerful example of the possibility of redemption. For a two-decade period ending in 1998, Mr. II X battled a severe addiction to both cocaine and marijuana. In this period he committed numerous state and federal offenses. Since overcoming his drug dependency and following his release from prison for the last time over 20 years ago, Mr. II X has become an acknowledged community leader in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Today, Mr. II X runs a non-profit organization, Game Changers, which is dedicated to guiding youth to productive, meaningful lives. He is also widely credited as a trusted voice of reason and peace in Louisville that both sides turn to if tensions arise between the police and local community. In recognition of the many contributions to his community, in December 2019 Governor Matt Bevin of Kentucky issued Mr. II X a full pardon for each of his State crimes. Today’s Federal pardon achieves the same for Mr. II X’s Federal cocaine offenses.  Cesar Lozada — President Trump granted a full pardon to Cesar Lozada. This act of clemency is supported by U.S. Representative-elect Maria Elvira Salazar and members of Mr. Lozada’s community. Mr. Lozada, an immigrant from Cuba, started a small business cleaning and servicing pools in Miami-Dade County.  Since then, his business, now a pool equipment company, has grown and employs dozens of people.  Today’s pardon addresses a mistake Mr. Lozada made in 2004 of conspiring to distribute marijuana, for which Mr. Lozada took full responsibility, served his sentence of 14 months in prison and 3 years supervised release, and paid a $10,000 fine. Mr. Lozada volunteers on weekends at a charity mission and serves food to the poor.  Joseph Martin Stephens — President Trump granted Joseph Martin Stephens a full pardon. Mr. Stephens’ Federal conviction – a guilty plea in 2008 to being a felon in possession of a firearm – is predicated on a State felony conviction from 1991, when he was 19. Although the state offered Mr. Stephens deferred adjudication, he turned it down. When Federal authorities prosecuted him nearly 20 years later for possessing a firearm, he took full responsibility for his conduct and served a sentence of 18 months in prison and 3 years on supervised release. Clemency for Mr. Stephens is supported by business associates. Andrew Barron Worden — President Trump granted a full pardon to Andrew Barron Worden, an entrepreneur who has worked extensively in the solar energy field. Mr. Worden has exhibited a decades-long commitment to philanthropy, including founding charitable foundations and teaching and research grant programs. Mr. Worden enjoys the support of business associates and his community for this pardon, which pertains to a 1998 conviction for wire fraud. At the time, Mr. Worden had just graduated from college and made mistakes in running an investment firm he founded. However, Mr. Worden voluntarily stopped his wrongful conduct and began to repay his victims before any criminal charges were filed, an action his sentencing judge called “extraordinary.” Robert Coughlin — President Trump granted a full pardon to Robert Coughlin. This act of clemency has the support of former interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeffrey Taylor and Adam Ciongoli, former counselor to Attorney General Ashcroft. Mr. Coughlin pled guilty to a single count of conflict of interest in performing his duties as a Department of Justice official. He was charged for doing favors on matters before the Department of Justice in exchange for sports and concert tickets. Mr. Coughlin voluntarily surrendered his law license and was sentenced to 30 days in a halfway house and 200 hours of community service. Mr. Coughlin is remorseful and has volunteered in his community through organizations including Meals on Wheels and Toys for Tots. Recently, he was reinstated to the D.C. Bar and wishes to put his mistakes behind him.  John Boultbee and Peter Atkinson — President Trump granted a full pardon to John Boultbee and Peter Atkinson. Mr. Boultbee is the former chief financial officer and Mr. Atkinson is the former vice president of Hollinger International.  Both men were convicted as part of an alleged fraud scheme involving Lord Conrad Black, and both served nearly a year in prison for mail fraud. President Trump previously pardoned Lord Black, and for similar reasons and with the support of Lord Black, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Safer, and David Nathanson, he has now granted a full pardon to Messrs. Boultbee and Atkinson. Joseph Occhipinti — President Trump granted a full pardon to Joseph Occhipinti, a 70-year-old former Supervisory Special Agent with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. This pardon is supported by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Association of Police Organizations, and Representative Christopher Smith. In 1991, Mr. Occhipinti was convicted of conspiracy to violate civil rights under the color of law and making false statements. Mr. Occhipinti had a 22-year highly decorated career in which he earned 76 separate commendations, including three from Attorneys General. Mr. Occhipinti’s 37 month long sentence was commuted by President George H.W. Bush after only 7 months’ incarceration.  Rebekah Charleston — President Trump granted a full pardon to Rebekah Charleston. Ms. Charleston’s pardon is supported by her friends, family, and even the Special Agent who arrested her in 2006 for tax evasion. Ms. Charleston is a victim of sex trafficking who has suffered a litany of abuses and endured a life of forced prostitution. Despite these hardships, Ms. Charleston has become a champion for survivors of all crimes, particularly sex trafficking. She obtained a master’s degree in criminal justice and has worked tirelessly to give a voice to the voiceless victims of sex trafficking. Ms. Charleston volunteers much of her time helping those who are currently or have previously been victims. Rickey Kanter — President Trump granted a full pardon to Rickey Kanter. Mr. Kanter was the owner and CEO of Dr. Comfort, a company which manufactures special shoes and inserts for diabetics. Although there was no evidence that Dr. Comfort’s customers were ever harmed by the company’s shoe inserts, the company and Mr. Kanter settled claims in civil court regarding shoe inserts that were technically non-compliant with Medicare regulations.  It was only after this point when the Federal Government filed a criminal action against Mr. Kanter. Mr. Kanter pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and completed his sentence of one year and one day in 2012. Since his period of incarceration, Mr. Kanter has been a model member of his community. Topeka Sam — President Trump granted a full pardon to Topeka Sam. This pardon is supported by Alice Johnson and David Safavian. Ms. Sam’s life is a story of redemption. She has become a powerful advocate for criminal justice reform since she completed 3 years of a 130-month sentence she received in 2012 as a result of pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine. Ms. Sam has since dedicated her life to helping other women in need turn from a path of despair towards a path of redemption. Ms. Sam founded Ladies of Hope Ministries, where she helps formerly incarcerated women transition back into society through education, entrepreneurship, spiritual empowerment, and advocacy. Along with others, she championed the historic First Step Act that President Trump signed in to law in 2018. James Batmasian — President Trump granted a full pardon to James Batmasian. Mr. Batmasian’s pardon is supported by Representative Brian Mast, Alice Johnson, and former Masters Champion Bernhard Langer, among many others from the South Florida community that Mr. Batmasian has done so much to serve through his extensive charitable works. Mr. Batmasian runs an extensive property management business in South Florida. Over a three-year period from 2001 to 2003, Mr. Batmasian made overtime payments without withholding for income taxes or FICA contributions. While illegal, Mr. Batmasian recorded all of these payments and made no attempt to hide them when confronted by IRS investigators. In 2008, Mr. Batmasian pled guilty to willful failure to collect and remit payroll taxes. Mr. Batmasian accepted full responsibility for his actions, fully repaid the IRS the money he owed, and served his 8-month sentence.      William J. Plemons, Jr. — President Trump granted a full pardon to William J. Plemons, Jr. Business associates attest to his generosity and service to children and the underprivileged. His clemency is also supported by Richard Greene, former State Senator of Georgia. Mr. Plemons served in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged. He has spent decades supporting the Boy Scouts, the Cure Childhood Cancer Hospital, and other charitable efforts. Although he was convicted of various financial crimes in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he has taken responsibility for his conduct, served a sentence of 27 months in prison, and paid $400,000 in restitution.  Russell Plaisance — President Trump granted a full posthumous pardon to Russell Plaisance. His clemency is supported by numerous local officials, including the Sheriff of the parish. The prosecutor on his case also does not object to a pardon. In life, Mr. Plaisance built a tug boat business from the ground up that has grown into seven vessels and employment for over 50 individuals. He has also contributed his time and resources to local charitable causes. His Federal case, dating back to 1987, involves a single count of conspiracy to import cocaine stemming from one conversation in which he participated.  The sentencing judge called the event “totally inconsistent with [Mr. Plaisance’s] life history and [his] character.” Mr. Plaisance is survived by his wife of 54 years, children, and grandchildren. Daniela Gozes-Wagner — President Trump commuted the sentence and restitution order imposed upon Ms. Gozes-Wagner. Numerous former law-enforcement officials, including U.S. Attorneys General Michael Mukasey, Ed Meese, Ramsey Clark, and John Ashcroft; Acting Attorneys General Peter Keisler and Matt Whitaker; an FBI Director, two U.S. Solicitors General, and scores of U.S. Attorneys, among others, have supported commutation for Ms. Gosez-Wager, arguing that she received a disproportionate sentence.  The Aleph Institute also supports her commutation. Ms. Wagner is a single mother of two children who has been in federal custody since her 2017 conviction for health care fraud and money laundering. Ms. Gozes-Wagner worked as a mid-level manager for a company that improperly received Medicare and Medicaid funds. Of the individuals in Ms. Gozes-Wagner’s case, Ms. Gozes-Wagner was the only defendant to go to trial.  She received a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and was ordered to pay $15.2 million in restitution. This sentence was significantly more severe than the sentences imposed on the other defendants, several of whom played a more central role in the fraud. Her sentence was criticized by numerous former high-ranking U.S. officials as disproportionate to her crime. Mark Siljander — President Trump granted a full pardon to Mark Siljander. His pardon is supported by Former United States Attorney General Edwin Meese, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Alabama Congressman Robert Aderholt, and Pastor Andrew Brunson. Mr. Siljander served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 6 years, representing the people of Michigan’s 4th district. During his time in Congress, Mr. Siljander was one of Congress’ most stalwart defenders of pro-life principles and the namesake of the “Siljander Amendment,” which prohibits U.S. funds from being used to lobby for or against abortion.  Mr. Siljander served a year in prison for obstruction of justice and failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Since his incarceration, Mr. Siljander has devoted himself to traveling in the Middle East and Africa to promote peace and mutual understanding.  Stephanie Mohr — President Trump granted a full pardon to Stephanie Mohr. Her clemency is supported by the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund and the Fraternal Order of Police. Ms. Mohr was a police officer in Prince George’s County where she achieved the distinction of being the first female canine handler in the Department’s history. She served 10 years in prison for releasing her K-9 partner on a burglary suspect in 1995, resulting in a bite wound requiring ten stitches. Officer Mohr was a highly commended member of the police force prior to her prosecution. Today’s action recognizes that service and the lengthy term that Ms. Mohr served in prison. Gary Brugman — President Trump granted a full pardon to Gary Brugman.  His clemency is supported by numerous elected officials, including Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, Representative Louie Gohmert, Representative Ted Poe, Representative Steve King, Representative Paul Gosar, Representative Walter Jones, Representative Brian Babin, and Representative John Culberson. Others who support this pardon include Laura Ingraham, Sara Carter, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, Bernie Kerik, and numerous members of the U.S. Border Patrol.    Mr. Brugman served this country for 8 years in the Coast Guard and then for 4 years as a U.S. Border Patrol agent. While protecting our borders at Eagle Pass, Texas, Mr. Brugman intercepted nearly a dozen illegal immigrants, pursued them on foot, and apprehended them.  Mr. Brugman was accused of knocking one of the illegal immigrants to the ground and was prosecuted on that basis for deprivation of rights.  He served 27 months in prison, where other inmates sought to harm him because of his law enforcement background.  After being released from prison, Mr. Brugman went on to obtain his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management. John Tate and Jesse Benton — President Trump granted John Tate and Jesse Benton full pardons.  This action is supported by Senator Rand Paul and Lee Goodman, former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission. Both Mr. Tate and Mr. Benton were convicted based on indirect campaign payments to a state Senator.  According to Mr. Goodman, the reporting law violated was unclear and not well established at the time. Each individual received 6 months home confinement and 2 years’ probation. Charles Kushner — President Trump granted a full pardon to Charles Kushner.  Former United States Attorney for the District of Utah Brett Tolman and the American Conservative Union’s Matt Schlapp and David Safavian support a pardon of Mr. Kushner.  Since completing his sentence in 2006, Mr. Kushner has been devoted to important philanthropic organizations and causes, such as Saint Barnabas Medical Center and United Cerebral Palsy. This record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner’s conviction and 2 year sentence for preparing false tax returns, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the FEC.  Margaret Hunter— President Trump granted a full pardon to Margaret Hunter.  According to former Federal Election Commission Commissioner Bradley Smith, the conduct forming the basis of Ms. Hunter’s 2019 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to misuse campaign funds for personal expenses should have been treated as a civil case by the agency. Mrs. Hunter was sentenced to three years’ probation. President Trump previously issued a full pardon to former Congressman Hunter for the same alleged conduct.     Paul Manafort—Today, President Trump has issued a full and complete pardon to Paul Manafort, stemming from convictions prosecuted in the course of Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation, which was premised on the Russian collusion hoax.  Mr. Manafort has already spent two years in prison, including a stretch of time in solitary confinement – treatment worse than what many of the most violent criminals receive.  As a result of blatant prosecutorial overreach, Mr. Manafort has endured years of unfair treatment and is one of the most prominent victims of what has been revealed to be perhaps the greatest witch hunt in American history.  As Mr. Manafort’s trial judge observed, prior to the Special Counsel investigation, Mr. Manafort had led an “otherwise blameless life.”  Since May, Mr. Manafort has been released to home confinement as a result of COVID-19 concerns.    Roger Stone— Today, President Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon to Roger Stone, Jr.  President Trump had previously commuted Mr. Stone’s sentence in July of this year.  Mr. Stone is a 68-year-old man with numerous medical conditions.  Due to prosecutorial misconduct by Special Counsel Mueller’s team, Mr. Stone was treated very unfairly.  He was subjected to a pre-dawn raid of his home, which the media conveniently captured on camera.  Mr. Stone also faced potential political bias at his jury trial.  Pardoning him will help to right the injustices he faced at the hands of the Mueller investigation.  Mark Shapiro and Irving Stitsky — President Trump granted commutations to Mark Shapiro and Irving Stitsky, for the remainder of both of their sentences. Messrs. Shapiro and Stitsky founded a real estate investing firm, but hid their prior felony convictions and used a straw CEO. Due to the 2008 financial crisis, the business lost millions for its investors. Prior to trial, prosecutors offered Messrs. Shapiro and Stitsky plea agreements for 5 to 7 years and 7 to 9 years, respectively.  Both declined the deal and exercised their Constitutional right to a jury trial.  Both men were found guilty and sentenced to 85 years imprisonment.  This sentence was over 10 times the plea offer for Mr. Shapiro and almost 10 times the plea offer for Mr. Stitsky.  Messrs. Shapiro and Stitsky have already served more time than their plea offers. Since their incarceration, both men have become model prisoners, earning support and praise from their fellow inmates. Mr. Shapiro has renewed his faith in Judaism and taught fellow inmates the dangers of dishonesty, while Mr. Stitsky has reflected on the victims of his crime and the remorse that he now has.  This clemency is supported by the Aleph Institute, Alice Johnson, several criminal justice advocacy groups, former Attorney General Edwin Meese, former Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson, former District Judge William Bassler, former United States Attorneys Brett Tolman and James Reynolds, Professors of Law Bennett Gershman and Harold Krent, and several of the victims.

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020 On Monday, December 21, 2020, the President signed into law:         H.R. 2246, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 West Cherokee Street in Brookhaven, Mississippi, as the Deputy Donald William Durr, Corporal Zach Moak, and Patrolman James White Memorial Post Office Building;   H.R. 2454, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 East Sharpfish Street in Rosebud, South Dakota, as the Ben Reifel Post Office Building;   H.R. 2969, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1401 1st Street North in Winter Haven, Florida, as the Althea Margaret Daily Mills Post Office Building;   H.R. 3005, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13308 Midland Road in Poway, California, as the Ray Chavez Post Office Building;   H.R. 3275, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 340 Wetmore Avenue in Grand River, Ohio, as the Lance Corporal Andy "Ace" Nowacki Post Office;   H.R. 3680, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 415 North Main Street in Henning, Tennessee, as the Paula Croom Robinson and Judy Spray Memorial Post Office Building;   H.R. 3847, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 117 West Poythress Street in Hopewell, Virginia, as the Reverend Curtis West Harris Post Office Building;   H.R. 3870, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 511 West 165th Street in New York, New York, as the Normandia Maldonado Post Office Building;   H.R. 4034, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 602 Pacific Avenue in Bremerton, Washington, as the John Henry Turpin Post Office Building;   H.R. 4200, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 321 South 1st Street in Montrose, Colorado, as the Sergeant David Kinterknecht Post Office;   H.R. 4279, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 445 Main Street in Laceyville, Pennsylvania, as the Melinda Gene Piccotti Post Office;   H.R. 4672, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 21701 Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino, California, as the Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew G. Axelson Post Office Building;   H.R. 4725, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8585 Criterion Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the Chaplain (Capt.) Dale Goetz Memorial Post Office Building;   H.R. 4785, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1305 U.S. Highway 90 West in Castroville, Texas, as the Lance Corporal Rhonald Dain Rairdan Post Office;   H.R. 4875, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2201 E. Maple Street in North Canton, Ohio, as the Lance Cpl. Stacy "Annie" Dryden Post Office;   H.R. 4971, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15 East Market Street in Leesburg, Virginia, as the Norman Duncan Post Office Building;   H.R. 5317, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 315 Addicks Howell Road in Houston, Texas, as the Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office Building;   H.R. 5954, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 West Maple Street in Holly, Michigan, as the Holly Veterans Memorial Post Office; and   S. 4902, which designate the United States courthouse located at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse.

President Donald J. Trump Approves Oklahoma Disaster Declaration

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020 President Donald J. Trump Approves Oklahoma Disaster Declaration   Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Oklahoma and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm from October 26 to October 29, 2020.   Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in the counties of Caddo, Canadian, Cleveland, Dewey, Grady, Kingfisher, Kiowa, Logan, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne, Pottawatomie, and Roger Mills.   Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.   Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Traci L. Brasher as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.    Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

Executive Order on Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020

EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - PROMOTING BEAUTIFUL FEDERAL CIVIC ARCHITECTURE       By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:     Section 1.  Purpose.  Societies have long recognized the importance of beautiful public architecture.  Ancient Greek and Roman public buildings were designed to be sturdy and useful, and also to beautify public spaces and inspire civic pride.  Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, public architecture continued to serve these purposes.  The 1309 constitution of the City of Siena required that "[w]hoever rules the City must have the beauty of the City as his foremost preoccupation . . . because it must provide pride, honor, wealth, and growth to the Sienese citizens, as well as pleasure and happiness to visitors from abroad."  Three centuries later, the great British Architect Sir Christopher Wren declared that "public buildings [are] the ornament of a country.  [Architecture] establishes a Nation, draws people and commerce, makes the people love their native country . . . Architecture aims at eternity[]"     Notable Founding Fathers agreed with these assessments and attached great importance to Federal civic architecture.  They wanted America's public buildings to inspire the American people and encourage civic virtue.  President George Washington and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson consciously modeled the most important buildings in Washington, D.C., on the classical architecture of ancient Athens and Rome.  They sought to use classical architecture to visually connect our contemporary Republic with the antecedents of democracy in classical antiquity, reminding citizens not only of their rights but also their responsibilities in maintaining and perpetuating its institutions.     Washington and Jefferson personally oversaw the competitions to design the Capitol Building and the White House.  Under the direction and following the vision of these two founders, Pierre Charles L'Enfant designed the Nation's capital as a classical city.  The promise of his design for the city was fulfilled by the 1902 McMillan Plan, which created the National Mall and the Monumental Core as we know them.     For approximately a century and a half following America's founding, America's Federal architecture continued to be characterized by beautiful and beloved buildings of largely, though not exclusively, classical design.  Examples include the Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, and the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in New York City, New York.  In Washington, D.C., classical buildings such as the White House, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, the Department of the Treasury, and the Lincoln Memorial have become iconic symbols of our system of government.  These cherished landmarks, built to endure for centuries, have become an important part of our civic life.       In the 1950s, the Federal Government largely replaced traditional designs for new construction with modernist ones.  This practice became official policy after the Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Office Space proposed what became known as the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture (Guiding Principles) in 1962.  The Guiding Principles implicitly discouraged classical and other traditional designs known for their beauty, declaring instead that the Government should use "contemporary" designs.      The Federal architecture that ensued, overseen by the General Services Administration (GSA), was often unpopular with Americans.  The new buildings ranged from the undistinguished to designs even GSA now admits many in the public found unappealing.  In Washington, D.C., new Federal buildings visibly clashed with the existing classical architecture.  Some of these structures, such as the Hubert H. Humphrey Department of Health and Human Services Building and the Robert C. Weaver Department of Housing and Urban Development Building, were controversial, attracting widespread criticism for their Brutalist designs.       In 1994, GSA responded to this widespread criticism that the buildings it had been commissioning lacked distinction by establishing the Design Excellence Program.  The GSA intended that program to advance the Guiding Principles' mandate that Federal architecture "provide visual testimony to the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the American Government."  Unfortunately, the program has not met this goal.     Under the Design Excellence Program, GSA has often selected designs by prominent architects with little regard for local input or regional aesthetic preferences.  The resulting Federal architecture sometimes impresses the architectural elite, but not the American people who the buildings are meant to serve.  Many of these new Federal buildings are not even visibly identifiable as civic buildings.     For example, GSA selected an architect to design the San Francisco Federal Building who describes his designs as "art-for-art's-sake" architecture, intended primarily for architects to appreciate.  While elite architects praised the resulting building, many San Franciscans consider it one of the ugliest structures in their city.  Similarly, GSA selected a modernist architect to design Salt Lake City's new Federal courthouse.  The architectural establishment and its professional organizations praised his unique creation, but many local residents considered it ugly and inconsistent with its surroundings.  In Orlando, Florida, a coalition of judges, court employees, and civic leaders opposed GSA's preferred modernist design for the George C. Young Federal Courthouse.  They believed it lacked the dignity a Federal courthouse should embody.  The GSA nonetheless imposed this design over their objections.     With a limited number of exceptions, such as the Tuscaloosa Federal Building and Courthouse and the Corpus Christi Federal Courthouse, the Federal Government has largely stopped building beautiful buildings.  In Washington, D.C., Federal architecture has become a discordant mixture of classical and modernist designs.     It is time to update the policies guiding Federal architecture to address these problems and ensure that architects designing Federal buildings serve their clients, the American people.  New Federal building designs should, like America's beloved landmark buildings, uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, ennoble the United States, command respect from the general public, and, as appropriate, respect the architectural heritage of a region.  They should also be visibly identifiable as civic buildings and should be selected with input from the local community.      Classical and other traditional architecture, as practiced both historically and by today's architects, have proven their ability to meet these design criteria and to more than satisfy today's functional, technical, and sustainable needs.  Their use should be encouraged instead of discouraged.       Encouraging classical and traditional architecture does not exclude using most other styles of architecture, where appropriate.  Care must be taken, however, to ensure that all Federal building designs command respect of the general public for their beauty and visual embodiment of America's ideals.      Sec. 2.  Policy.  (a)  Applicable Federal public buildings should uplift and beautify public spaces, inspire the human spirit, ennoble the United States, and command respect from the general public.  They should also be visually identifiable as civic buildings and, as appropriate, respect regional architectural heritage.  Architecture -- with particular regard for traditional and classical architecture -- that meets the criteria set forth in this subsection is the preferred architecture for applicable Federal public buildings.  In the District of Columbia, classical architecture shall be the preferred and default architecture for Federal public buildings absent exceptional factors necessitating another kind of architecture.      (b)  Where the architecture of applicable Federal public buildings diverges from the preferred architecture set forth in subsection (a) of this section, great care and consideration must be taken to choose a design that commands respect from the general public and clearly conveys to the general public the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of America's system of self-government.     (c)  When renovating, reducing, or expanding applicable Federal public buildings that do not meet the criteria set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the feasibility and potential expense of building redesign to meet those criteria should be examined.  Where feasible and economical, such redesign should be given substantial consideration, especially with regard to the building's exterior.     (d)  GSA should seek input from the future users of applicable public buildings and the general public in the community where such buildings will be located before selecting an architectural firm or design style.       Sec. 3.  Definitions.  For the purposes of this order:     (a)  "Applicable Federal public building" means:          (i)    all Federal courthouses and agency headquarters;          (ii)   all Federal public buildings in the District of Columbia; and          (iii)  all other Federal public buildings that cost or are expected to cost more than $50 million in 2020 dollars to design, build, and finish, but does not include infrastructure projects or land ports of entry.     (b)  "Brutalist" means the style of architecture that grew out of the early 20th-century modernist movement that is characterized by a massive and block-like appearance with a rigid geometric style and large-scale use of exposed poured concrete.     (c)  "Classical architecture" means the architectural tradition derived from the forms, principles, and vocabulary of the architecture of Greek and Roman antiquity, and as later developed and expanded upon by such Renaissance architects as Alberti, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, and Palladio; such Enlightenment masters as Robert Adam, John Soane, and Christopher Wren; such 19th-century architects as Benjamin Henry Latrobe, Robert Mills, and Thomas U. Walter; and such 20th-century practitioners as Julian Abele, Daniel Burnham, Charles F. McKim, John Russell Pope, Julia Morgan, and the firm of Delano and Aldrich.  Classical architecture encompasses such styles as Neoclassical, Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, Beaux-Arts, and Art Deco.      (d)  "Deconstructivist" means the style of architecture generally known as "deconstructivism" that emerged during the late 1980s that subverts the traditional values of architecture through such features as fragmentation, disorder, discontinuity, distortion, skewed geometry, and the appearance of instability.     (e)  "General public" means members of the public who are not:         (i)   artists, architects, engineers, art or architecture critics, instructors or professors of art or architecture, or members of the building industry; or         (ii)  affiliated with any interest group, trade association, or any other organization whose membership is financially affected by decisions involving the design, construction, or remodeling of public buildings.     (f)  "Officer" has the meaning given that term in section 2104 of title 5, United States Code.     (g)  "Public building" has the meaning given that term in section 3301(a)(5) of title 40, United States Code.     (h)  "Traditional architecture" includes classical architecture, as defined herein, and also includes the historic humanistic architecture such as Gothic, Romanesque, Pueblo Revival, Spanish Colonial, and other Mediterranean styles of architecture historically rooted in various regions of America.         (i)  "2020 dollars" means dollars adjusted for inflation using the Bureau of Economic Analysis's Gross Domestic Product price deflator and using 2020 as the base year.     Sec. 4.  President's Council on Improving Federal Civic Architecture.  (a)  There is hereby established the President's Council on Improving Federal Civic Architecture (Council).     (b)  The Council shall be composed of:          (i)    all of the members of the Commission of Fine Arts;          (ii)   the Secretary of the Commission of Fine Arts;         (iii)  the Architect of the Capitol;          (iv)   the Commissioner of the GSA Public Building Service;          (v)    the Chief Architect of GSA;          (vi)   other officers or employees of the Federal Government as the President may, from time to time, designate; and          (vii)  up to 20 additional members appointed by the President from among citizens from outside the Federal Government to provide diverse perspectives on the matters falling under the Council's jurisdiction.       (c)  The Council shall be chaired by a member of the Commission of Fine Arts designated by the President.  The Chair may designate a vice-chair and may establish subcommittees.     (d)  The members of the Council shall serve without compensation for their work on the Council.  However, members of the Council, while engaged in the work of the Council, may receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the government service, pursuant to sections 5701 through 5707 of title 5, United States Code.      (e)  To the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations, the Administrator of General Services (Administrator) shall provide such funding and administrative and technical support as the Council may require.  The Administrator shall, to the extent permitted by law, direct GSA staff to provide any relevant information the Council requests and may detail such staff to aid the work of the Council, at the request of the Council.       (f)  Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), may apply to the Council, any functions of the President under that Act, except that of reporting to the Congress under section 6 of that Act, shall be performed by the Administrator in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the Administrator.     (g)  The Council shall terminate on September 30, 2021, unless extended by the President.  Members appointed under subsections (b)(vi) and (b)(vii) of this section shall serve until the Council terminates and shall not be removed except for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.      Sec. 5.  Responsibilities of the Council.  The Council shall:     (a)  submit a report to the Administrator, recommending updates to GSA's policies and procedures to incorporate the policies of section 2 of this order and advance the purposes of this order.  The report shall explain how the recommended changes accomplish these purposes.  The report shall be submitted prior to September 30, 2021.     (b)  recommend to the Administrator changes to GSA policies for situations in which the agency participates in a design selection pursuant to the Commemorative Works Act (chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code), in furtherance of the purposes of this order and consistent with applicable law.     Sec. 6.  Agency Actions.  (a)  The Administrator shall adhere to the policies set forth in section 2 of this order.     (b)  In the event the Administrator proposes to approve a design for a new applicable Federal public building that diverges from the preferred architecture set forth in subsection 2(a) of this order, including Brutalist or Deconstructivist architecture or any design derived from or related to these types of architecture, the Administrator shall notify the President through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy not less than 30 days before GSA could reject such design without incurring substantial expenditures.  Such notification shall set forth the reasons the Administrator proposes to approve such design, including:         (i)    a detailed explanation of why the Administrator believes selecting such design is justified, with particular focus on whether such design is as beautiful and reflective of the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of the American system of self-government as alternative designs of comparable cost using preferred architecture;         (ii)   the total expected cost of adopting the proposed design, including estimated maintenance and replacement costs throughout its expected lifecycle; and         (iii)  a description of the designs using preferred architecture seriously considered for such project and the total expected cost of adopting such designs, including estimated maintenance and replacement costs throughout their expected lifecycles.     Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:         (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or         (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.     (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.     (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                         DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE,     December 18, 2020.

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 20, 2020

On Sunday, December 20, 2020, the President signed into law:     H.J.Res. 110, the “Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021,” which provides fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations to Federal agencies through Monday, December 21, 2020, for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government.