Trump issues pardons for Rudy Giuliani and top allies involved in bid to overturn 2020 election

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has pardoned Rudy Giuliani and dozens of others accused of involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to his pardon attorney, Ed Martin.

Martin posted the proclamation late Sunday, November 9, on X, declaring that Giuliani and 76 others were being granted “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon” for alleged conduct linked to Trump’s failed bid to challenge the 2020 election results.

Trump grants ‘complete and unconditional’ pardon

The pardon was signed by Trump on Friday and covers a wide range of activities from organizing alternate slates of electors to advocating claims of voter fraud. It explicitly excludes Trump himself.

“I, DONALD J TRUMP, do hereby grant a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities in, or advocacy for or of any slate of presidential electors... in connection with the 2020 Presidential Election,” the proclamation reads.

Pardon covers Trump's major allies

The list includes several of Trump’s most prominent allies. Former New York Mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, lawyers Sidney Powell, John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro, and Trump’s 2020 chief of staff, Mark Meadows.

All were central figures in Trump’s attempts to challenge the election results, allegedly promoting theories of widespread voter fraud.

While sweeping in scope, the pardons are largely symbolic as none of those named have been convicted of federal crimes, which is what a presidential pardon would typically cover.

Trump has not commented publicly on the decision, and the White House as not responded to a request for comment.

Since returning to the office, Trump has sought to rewrite the narrative set by the House January 6 Committee, which concluded that he allegedly oversaw attempts to subvert the 2020 election, culminating in the violent assault on the US Capitol.

Rudy Giuliani is an 'an equally great American Patriot'

Giuliani, who was found in contempt of court earlier this year for failing to disclose assets in a defamation case brought by two Georgia election workers, remains one of Trump’s most visible defenders.

The president said in September he planned to award Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Donald Trump revealed the decision on Truth Social, calling Rudy Giuliani “the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, and an equally great American Patriot.”

The new pardons follow Trump’s January action granting clemency to 1,500 people, including several convicted members of the groups involved in the January 6 Capitol riot.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned those January pardons as “an outrageous insult to our justice system,” and Democrats are expected to express similar outrage over the latest round.