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Conrad Black: Trump pardons ex-media mogul convicted of fraud Conrad Black: Trump pardons convicted fraudster who wrote flattering book
(about 2 hours later)
Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a full pardon for the former media mogul Conrad Black, who was convicted in 2007 of fraud and obstruction of justice and spent three and a half years in prison. Conrad Black, the former media mogul who owned the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator before being sent to prison for fraud, has been pardoned by Donald Trump – shortly after writing a book praising the US president.
Black, 74, a Canadian-born British citizen, once ran an international newspaper empire that included the Chicago Sun-Times, Britain’s Daily Telegraph and the Jerusalem Post. The Canadian-born British citizen was once known for his extravagant lifestyle as he ran an international newspaper empire that also included the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post. But he ended up serving three and a half years in prison after being convicted in 2007 of siphoning off millions of dollars from the sale of newspapers owned by the company he controlled.
He was found guilty in the United States in 2007 of scheming to siphon off millions of dollars from the sale of newspapers owned by Hollinger Inc, where he was the chief executive and chairman. Since leaving jail Black, who is also a British peer, has been on a quest to clear his name. Last year he published a book entitled Donald J Trump: A President Like No Other, writing that Trump “is not, in fact, a racist, sexist, warmonger, hothead, promoter of violence, or a foreign or domestic economic warrior” and suggesting the President had been misunderstood.
Two of his three fraud convictions were later voided, and his sentence was shortened. He was released from a Florida prison in May 2012 and deported from the United States. Trump personally called his biographer to deliver the news that he was to receive a full presidential pardon, dubbing him “the great Lord Black”.
A White House spokesperson said the decision had been made because of Black’s “tremendous contributions to business, as well as to political and historical thought”, as well as the work he had done supporting fellow prisoners while behind bars.
Trump’s spokesperson also cited lobbying from the likes of former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, the Fox News host Rush Limbaugh, and the singer Sir Elton John as having contributed to the decision. US presidents have the absolute right to pardon individuals convicted of federal offences under the constitution.
‘He’s done quite well’: why Conrad Black thinks Trump is what the US needs‘He’s done quite well’: why Conrad Black thinks Trump is what the US needs
The White House statement on the pardon touted Black’s “tremendous contributions to business”. Black, who bought the Daily Telegraph in 1986, became a member of the House of Lords in 2001 after being put forward for a peerage by Conservative leader William Hague. He renounced his Canadian citizenship to take the honour, becoming Lord Black of Crossharbour and sat on the Tory benches until his fraud conviction. He is currently on a leave of absence from the British parliament – although now he has received a full pardon, he could be tempted to return.
“Formerly the owner of the world’s then-third largest newspaper, he is also the author of several notable biographies and works of history,” the White House noted. “These include comprehensive biographies of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard M. Nixon, a complete history of Canada, and an impressive essay evaluating how the world would have been different had Japan not attacked Pearl Harbor” the statement continued. Black has previous business dealing with Trump. Two decades ago he agreed to work with the future president to build a Chicago skyscraper on the site of an old newspaper office, while Trump was considered as a potential witness at Black’s fraud trail.
Black tweeted that when he was told there was a call from the White House, he thought it was a prank. Two of his three fraud convictions were later voided, and his sentence was shortened. He was released from a Florida prison in May 2012 and deported from the United States.
Black said he thought it was a prank by British tabloid journalists when he received the call from the White House informing him that he was about to be pardoned.
When my assistant said there was a call from the White House, I picked up, said “Hello” and started to ask if this was a prank (suspecting my friends in the British tabloid media), but the caller spoke politely over me: “Please hold for the president.” https://t.co/8jdA7j5dMOWhen my assistant said there was a call from the White House, I picked up, said “Hello” and started to ask if this was a prank (suspecting my friends in the British tabloid media), but the caller spoke politely over me: “Please hold for the president.” https://t.co/8jdA7j5dMO
Writing after the pardon in the Canadian National Post newspaper, which Black founded, the former media mogul said President Trump “could not have been more gracious and quickly got to the point:he was granting me a full pardon that would ‘expunge the bad rap you got’.” Writing after the pardon in the Canadian National Post newspaper, which Black founded, he said Trump “could not have been more gracious and quickly got to the point:he was granting me a full pardon that would ‘expunge the bad rap you got’”.
Black added that Trump had followed the case closely and offered to come to give evidence at my trial in Chicago in 2007 on one of the counts (I was acquitted of that one). He said that there would be some controversy, ‘but you can handle that better than anyone’.” Black said that Trump had followed his case closely and offered to come to give evidence at a 2007 trial in Chicago. The president told Black that there would be some controversy over the pardon, “but you can handle that better than anyone”.
In 2018 Black published a book on the president titled Donald J Trump: A President Like No Other. In it he wrote that the “great majority of anti-Trump activity in the first year of his administration was devoted to falsehoods, which were then justified by the selective and intentional misinterpretation of Trump’s careless and ambiguous statements.” The media mogul was known for his extravagance while running the Telegraph, jetting around the world between his multiple homes, throwing expensive dinner parties, and once turning up at fancy-dress event at Kensington Palace with his wife Barbara Amiel dressed as Cardinal Richelieu andMarie Antoinette costume respectively. He no longer controls his media assets, while the Daily Telegraph and Spectator were later sold to the Barclay Brothers.
Trump, he wrote, “is not, in fact, a racist, sexist, warmonger, hothead, promoter of violence, or a foreign or domestic economic warrior. No opposition can continue on this name-calling basis alone for much longer than this one has.
“Those who oppose Trump generally do not understand how desperate and disgusted almost half of Americans are at the most inept twenty-year streak of presidential misgovernment in American history that preceded the 2016 election.”
The White House said Black’s case had attracted “broad support from many high-profile individuals who have vigorously vouched for his exceptional character”.The White House said Black’s case had attracted “broad support from many high-profile individuals who have vigorously vouched for his exceptional character”.
“This impressive list includes former Secretary of State Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Sir Elton John, Rush Limbaugh, the late William F. Buckley, Jr., and many additional notable individuals.” “Formerly the owner of the world’s then-third largest newspaper, he is also the author of several notable biographies and works of history,” the White House said in a statement announcing the decision. “These include comprehensive biographies of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard M. Nixon, a complete history of Canada, and an impressive essay evaluating how the world would have been different had Japan not attacked Pearl Harbour.”
The office of the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, declined to comment.
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