Dinesh D'Souza celebrates presidential pardon, claims Obama 'gangsterized' American politics
Dinesh D'Souza wasted no time in sharing the good news that he would receive a full pardon from President Trump, calling into Laura Ingraham's radio show just minutes after Trump announced the pardon on Twitter.
D'Souza told The Laura Ingraham Show that he was "very relieved" to have his record clean, after he was convicted of campaign finance law violations in 2014. He said the pardon fully restored his faith in America.
He also said that his pardon was great revenge against Preet Bharara, the former U.S. District Attorney whose office prosecuted D'Souza. "File this in the karma's a b--ch department," said D'Souza.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
D'Souza, who often made unfounded claims about former President Obama's supposed personal vendetta against the conservative pundit, has continually painted himself as a martyr who was a victim of "selective prosecution" by the Obama administration. He repeated as much to Ingraham, telling her that "Obama and Hillary [Clinton] have gangsterized U.S. politics." Former President Jimmy Carter "would never dream of locking me up," like Obama allowed, D'Souza contended.
Ingraham agreed, and congratulated D'Souza on his newly expunged record, while other conservative figures took to social media to lavish praise on the provocateur.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Trump says 25% tariffs on Canada, Mexico start Feb. 1
Speed Read The tariffs imposed on America's neighbors could drive up US prices and invite retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump blames diversity, Democrats for DC air tragedy
Speed Read The president suggested that efforts to recruit more diverse air traffic controllers contributed to the deadly air crash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
White House withdraws Trump's spending freeze
Speed Read President Donald Trump's budget office has rescinded a directive that froze trillions of dollars in federal aid and sowed bipartisan chaos
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OpenAI announces ChatGPT Gov for government use
Speed Read The artificial intelligence research company has launched a new version of its chatbot tailored for the US government
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Caroline Kennedy urges Senate to reject RFK Jr.
Speed Read Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s cousin said he should not become President Donald Trump's health secretary, calling his medical views 'dangerous'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
GOP senator reneged on voting against Hegseth
Speed Read North Carolina senator Thom Tillis provided the deciding vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump sparks chaos with spending, aid freezes
Speed Read A sudden freeze on federal grants and loans by President Donald Trump's administration has created widespread confusion
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump feuds with Colombia on deportee flights
Speed Read Colombia has backed off from a trade war with the U.S., reaching an agreement on accepting deported migrants following tariff threats from President Donald Trump
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published