Donald John Trump has now been convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying documents to cover up a scheme to defraud voters in the 2016 election. It may have seemed as if Trump would never face any consequences for his actions. That changed Thursday.
Trump’s conviction may be a singular event, but he’s certainly not alone among his friends and co-workers. From his business, to his campaign, and on into his administration, Trump has been connected with a string of crimes and a list of felons. Not all of them got their own orange jumpsuits, but some did. Maybe they can provide Trump with a few tips on how to handle the guys in the yard.
Here’s a dirty baker’s dozen of Trump pals, all of whom have been convicted or pleaded guilty to a felony charge. Any of them should be happy to commensurate with Trump over his conviction. That is, if they’re out of jail. And if they’re allowed to associate with felons.
- Paul Manafort, campaign chairman: Tax fraud and bank fraud
- Rick Gates, Trump’s deputy campaign manager: Conspiracy against the United States
- Roger Stone, campaign adviser: Obstruction, lying to the FBI, witness interference
- Steve Bannon, chief strategist: Defying a subpoena
- George Nader, foreign policy adviser: Child sex abuse
- Peter Navarro, trade adviser: Contempt of Congress
- Michael Cohen, Trump attorney: Campaign finance fraud and tax evasion
- Jenna Ellis, Trump attorney: Aiding and abetting false statements
- Micahel Flynn, national security adviser: Lying to the FBI
- George Papadopoulos, campaign adviser: Lying to the FBI
- Kenneth Chesebro, Trump attorney: Conspiracy to file false documents
- Alan Wiesselberg, Trump Organization CFO: Perjury
- Elliot Broidy, top fundraiser and campaign adviser: Conspiracy to violate FISA
Trump used his extraordinary pardon authority in a very un-ordinary way the last time he had the opportunity, pardoning pals Manafort, Flynn, Broidy, and Stone so that none of them had to serve more than a fraction of their sentences. He also pardoned Bannon, who was charged with ripping off donors who thought they were helping to build Trump’s wall, before his case even went to trial. That didn’t stop Bannon from getting himself indicted a second time—and convicted—after Trump left office.
Right now, the Good Felons club doesn’t include his former attorneys Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, who have both been indicted. And Sidney Powell is only a junior member, thanks to her multiple misdemeanors.
Chief of staff Mark Meadows and deputy chief of staff Daniel Scavino didn’t face charges, though the House voted to hold them in contempt and recommended their prosecution to the Department of Justice. They got lucky.
But give it time. More Trump associates are sure to join the list.
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