Trump pardons top allies involved in effort to overturn 2020 election

President Donald Trump has issued pardons for numerous allies and alleged co-conspirators in his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Justice Department Pardon Attorney Ed Martin posted documents Sunday night showing the president issued “full, complete and unconditional” pardons to Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Boris Epshteyn, Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell, although the pardons are largely symbolic, reported Politico.

The pardon applies broadly to “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting activities, participation in or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of presidential electors … as well for any conduct relating to their efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in the 2020 presidential election," according to Politico.

None of the allies listed on the documents were charged with federal crimes — which Trump has the power to pardon. Ellis pleaded guilty to charges in Georgia and cooperated with prosecutors in other states, while Chesebro also pleaded guilty to a felony charge in Georgia and cooperated with prosecutors in Arizona and Nevada.

The documents posted by Martin weren't dated, so it's not clear when it was signed.

Former special counsel Jack Smith identified Giuliani, Eastman and Powell as Trump's co-conspirators in the election subversion case that was dropped after he won re-election last November, so the pardons would prevent a future administration from pursuing a federal case against them.

"Though Trump has long insisted he has the power to pardon himself for federal crimes — an untested proposition — it appears he is not yet prepared to test that theory," Politico noted. "Though the pardon document indicates it could apply to others who fit the same criteria, it explicitly excludes Trump."

Trump also pardoned dozens of Republican activists who signed paperwork falsely claiming to be presidential electors as part of a plot to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn Joe Biden's election win.

In one of his first acts after returning to the White House, Trump issued pardons or commutations for more than 1,500 people convicted or charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot, including 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.