President Donald Trump should pardon iconic American entrepreneur and lifestyle maven Martha Stewart, according to Mary Katherine Ham, conservative political pundit and senior writer at The Federalist.
Stewart, who served six months in a West Virginia penitentiary in 2004-2005 and another two years under house arrest, was found guilty for felony convictions of conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding and making false statements to investigators.
Her six-week trial gripped the nation and the media as Stewart became the face of those wealthy enough and with the right connections profiting in the stock market because they are privy to inside information for which ordinary citizens lack access.
Ham credits Stewart with crusty resilience for her comeback after leaving her prison days behind. For that and for "all she's given us," Ham maintains Trump should give Stewart a pardon. Further, she details seven reasons to support her contention.
The Whole Thing Was Nonsense — Ham points out Stewart was never charged with insider trading, although that's a popular misconception. Instead, she was "charged with conspiring to lie about the crime with which she was never charged," Ham states.
"The case for insider trading was weak, so the government went after her on more novel charges," Ham writes. "It shouldn’t have been a federal case, and Stewart shouldn't have lost her freedom, her executive position and a bunch of earning potential over it."
To Take a Swipe at Comey — As a federal prosecutor, former FBI Director James Comey was the one who decided to go after Stewart on those charges, Ham explains, adding, "A pardon to Stewart would be a blow to Comey that is perfectly within Trump's power and a much less controversial move than firing him was."
They're Both Famous New Yorkers — Ham maintains Stewart was targeted because of her celebrity status, arguing, "One of the hallmarks of a Trump administration has been to introduce us to quintessentially New York characters and their special brand of famous rich people infighting."
Because She Took Her Punishment With Dignity — "One of the reasons Stewart is compelling is that despite the knock on her as cold and privileged, she took her lumps without complaint.
"She didn't really do much of a crime, but she did the time. At every turn in the case, she defied the stereotype of a rich celebrity getting special treatment. For that alone, she should be officially forgiven," Ham writes.
Maybe We'll Get to See Someone Refuse a Pardon — As someone with "ice in her veins," for Stewart to refuse a pardon would be a "power move," Ham states, adding it would make "great TV."
"Given the odd politics of the Trump era, there's always a chance she calculates her crime and comeback are a long-completed chapter in her life and the optics of being given a pass by Trump aren't worth her reinstatement as a non-felonious American in good standing," Ham suggests.
To Make His Own Point About Lying to Investigators — "When there's no underlying crime with which a person is charged, as in the Stewart case, the false statement can simply stand in as a way to prosecute, because the government couldn't make its original case," Ham writes.
Citing Comey's new book, "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership," she then went on to detail instances when the former FBI director saw lying to investigators as a crime to be prosecuted, as in Stewart's case.
And then there are other times when Comey felt it OK to seemingly give a pass, as he has suggested about fired former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. "Special Agent Andrew McCabe stood tall over the last 8 months, when small people were trying to tear down an institution we all depend on. He served with distinction for two decades. I wish Andy well," Comey wrote, adding, "Good people lie."
Lots of Worse People Have Been Pardoned — "I mean, come on. Mark Rich. Oscar Lopez Rivera. Joe Arpaio. Chelsea Manning's clemency," Ham argues. "Give us Martha."
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