deadpresidents:

Nearly all of these pardons are absolutely disgusting.

From the article:

Mr. Trump’s moves on Tuesday support the notion that he has used his pardon power more aggressively than most presidents for personal and political purposes. Under the Constitution, the president is the ultimate emergency brake on the criminal justice system.

A tabulation by the Harvard Law School professor Jack Goldsmith found that of Mr. Trump’s 45 pardons or commutations before Tuesday, 88 percent went to people with personal ties to the president or to people who furthered his political aims.

The pardons ‘continue Trump’s unprecedented pattern of issuing self-serving pardons and commutations that advance his personal interests, reward friends, seek retribution against enemies, or gratify political constituencies,’ Mr. Goldsmith said Tuesday. ‘Like his past pardons, most if not all of them appear to be based on insider recommendations rather than normal Justice Department vetting process.’

The pardons of the Blackwater contractors have direct links to two of Mr. Trump’s close allies: Erik Prince, the former head of Blackwater, and Mr. Prince’s sister Betsy DeVos, the education secretary.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the reason the Blackwater barbarians were in prison, here’s a reminder via NBC News:

The four former Blackwater security contractors who received pardons, Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard, opened fire in and around Nisur Square in Baghdad on Sept. 16, 2007, according to evidence in their cases. Fourteen civilians were killed, including two women and two boys, age 11 and 9, according to the Justice Department. At least 17 more victims were injured.

Slatten, who was convicted of murder, fired ‘without provocation,’ according to the Justice Department. He has been serving a sentence of life in prison.

The other three men were convicted of manslaughter and other charges, and were re-sentenced last year to 15 years in prison, half of their original sentences.