US President Donald Trump's decision to pardon Indian-American conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza is being strongly criticised here, with New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood describing it as thwarting the cause of justice.
Trump yesterday pardoned D'Souza, who was sentenced to five years of probation in 2014 for violating federal campaign laws.
"Trump's latest pardon makes crystal clear his willingness to use his pardon power to thwart the cause of justice, rather than advance it. By pardoning Dinesh D'Souza, President Trump is undermining the rule of law by pardoning a political supporter who is an unapologetic convicted felon," Underwood said in a statement.
The president, who has never met D'Souza or spoken to him, last night called him on the phone to inform him about his decision. Trump said he spoke to D'Souza "for three minutes last night...he almost had a heart attack.
Referring to previous pardons by Trump, Underwood said "we can't afford to wait to see who will be next."
The New York Times, in a scathing editorial on Trump's pardon of D'Souza, said the president "uses whatever power he has to attack the people he feels have wronged him, and he will do what he feels he must to protect himself. For him, pardons are a means of vengeance."
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