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| Trump pardons fraudster Conrad Black after glowing biography | Trump pardons fraudster Conrad Black after glowing biography |
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| Donald Trump has pardoned Conrad Black, the former media mogul who owned the Daily Telegraph and the Spectator before being jailed for fraud, shortly after he wrote a book praising the US president. | Donald Trump has pardoned Conrad Black, the former media mogul who owned the Daily Telegraph and the Spectator before being jailed for fraud, shortly after he wrote a book praising the US president. |
| Black, a Canadian-born British citizen, was once known for his extravagant lifestyle as he ran an international newspaper empire that included the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post. But he ended up serving three and a half years in prison after he was convicted in 2007 of siphoning off millions of dollars from the sale of newspapers owned by the company he controlled. | Black, a Canadian-born British citizen, was once known for his extravagant lifestyle as he ran an international newspaper empire that included the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post. But he ended up serving three and a half years in prison after he was convicted in 2007 of siphoning off millions of dollars from the sale of newspapers owned by the company he controlled. |
| Since leaving jail Black, who is 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”. He suggested the president had been misunderstood. | Since leaving jail Black, who is 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”. He suggested the president had been misunderstood. |
| Trump called Black personally to deliver the news that he was to receive a full presidential pardon, dubbing him “the great Lord Black”. | Trump called Black personally 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 inside. | 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 inside. |
| Trump’s spokesperson said lobbying from people such as the former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, the conservative talkshow host Rush Limbaugh and the singer Sir Elton John had also contributed to the decision. US presidents have the absolute right to pardon individuals convicted of federal offences under the constitution. | Trump’s spokesperson said lobbying from people such as the former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, the conservative talkshow host Rush Limbaugh and the singer Sir Elton John had also contributed to the decision. US presidents have the absolute right to pardon individuals convicted of federal offences under the constitution. |
| Conrad Black is born in Montreal, Canada. During his education he was expelled from Upper Canada College for selling exam papers. He lasted less than a year at Trinity College School before being again expelled. | |
| Black begins investing in the Canadian media industry, starting his empire by buying shares in two weekly newspapers. By 1996 he controlled 59 of Canada's 105 daily newspapers. | |
| Black buys a stake in the Daily Telegraph in the UK, which he would retain for nearly 20 years. | |
| Black renounces his Canadian citizenship in order to be named Lord Black of Crossharbour and enter the House of Lords in the UK, sitting as a Conservative peer. | |
| At the height of his power, Black controlled around 18% of the Hollinger media empire. As well as the Daily Telegraph, the company's portfolio included the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post, and more than 200 other newspapers. The company had an estimated value of more than £550m. Black’s net personal worth was estimated at $400m. | |
| Black resigns from the board of Hollinger after allegations of misappropriation of company funds. The publishing group begins to break up that year, with the Barclay Brothers buying the Daily Telegraph and the Israeli publisher Mirkaei Tikshoret paying $13.2m in cash for the Jerusalem Post. By 2009 the group had filed for bankruptcy. | |
| Black is jailed for six-and-a-half years for his part in defrauding Hollinger shareholders of $6.1m (£4m) through phoney 'non-compete' agreements attached to the sale of newspaper titles, and for defying a subsequent court order by removing boxes of paperwork from his office. | |
| After two of his three fraud convictions were voided on appeal, and his sentence shortened, Black is released from prison. He was deported from the US and moved to Toronto. He later described one aspect of being in prison, where his job was cleaning the shower stalls. 'It wasn’t terribly exciting work. You just put soap on the wall and focus a hose on it. There was a social component to it, however. All of these guards from all over coming to watch this millionaire clean the shower.' | |
| Black publishes a glowing book on the US president, Donald Trump, titled 'A President Like No Other'. In it he says: 'Those who oppose Trump generally do not understand how desperate and disgusted almost half of Americans are at the most inept 20-year streak of presidential misgovernment in American history that preceded the 2016 election.' | |
| Black announces that in a personal phone call, Donald Trump has given him a full pardon. | |
| 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 the then 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. | 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 the then 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 but has previously suggested he could return. A House of Lords spokesperson confirmed Black could vote on British laws again if he gave three months’ notice of his intention to return. | He is currently on a leave of absence from the British parliament but has previously suggested he could return. A House of Lords spokesperson confirmed Black could vote on British laws again if he gave three months’ notice of his intention to return. |
| ‘He’s done quite well’: why Conrad Black thinks Trump is what the US needs | |
| Black has had previous dealings with Trump. Two decades ago he agreed to work with the future president to build a skyscraper on the site of an old Chicago newspaper office. Trump was considered as a potential witness at Black’s fraud trail. | Black has had previous dealings with Trump. Two decades ago he agreed to work with the future president to build a skyscraper on the site of an old Chicago newspaper office. Trump was considered as a potential witness at Black’s fraud trail. |
| In 2005 – at a time when Trump was still an unlikely candidate for the Republican presidential nomination – Black wrote a piece entitled”: “Trump is the good guy”. Trump responded by praising Black as “one of the truly great intellects and my friend”, promising not to forget the article. | In 2005 – at a time when Trump was still an unlikely candidate for the Republican presidential nomination – Black wrote a piece entitled”: “Trump is the good guy”. Trump responded by praising Black as “one of the truly great intellects and my friend”, promising not to forget the article. |
| Black’s record of lavish spending includes a $42,000 birthday party for his wife. And he is said to have told potential investors who asked why he needed a corporate jet: “I can have a 747 if I want.” | Black’s record of lavish spending includes a $42,000 birthday party for his wife. And he is said to have told potential investors who asked why he needed a corporate jet: “I can have a 747 if I want.” |
| Black was jailed after being found guilty of conspiring with fellow executives to siphon off funds from the sale of media businesses. Two of Black’s three fraud convictions were later voided, and his sentence was shortened. Black was released from a Florida prison in May 2012 and deported. | Black was jailed after being found guilty of conspiring with fellow executives to siphon off funds from the sale of media businesses. Two of Black’s three fraud convictions were later voided, and his sentence was shortened. Black was released from a Florida prison in May 2012 and deported. |
| He 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. | He 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/8jdA7j5dMO | 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/8jdA7j5dMO |
| 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’”. | 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 said Trump had followed his case closely and offered to give evidence at the 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”. | Black said Trump had followed his case closely and offered to give evidence at the 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”. |
| While running the Telegraph, Black jetted around the world between his multiple homes, threw expensive dinner parties, and once attended a fancy-dress event at Kensington Palace with his wife, Barbara Amiel, dressed as Cardinal Richelieu and Marie Antoinette respectively. He no longer controls his media assets, and the Daily Telegraph and Spectator were later sold to the Barclay brothers. | While running the Telegraph, Black jetted around the world between his multiple homes, threw expensive dinner parties, and once attended a fancy-dress event at Kensington Palace with his wife, Barbara Amiel, dressed as Cardinal Richelieu and Marie Antoinette respectively. He no longer controls his media assets, and the Daily Telegraph and Spectator were later sold to the Barclay brothers. |
| 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”. |
| “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.” | “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.” |
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