NATION
6A — BAKER CITY HERALD
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021
Trump pardons Bannon, but not himself or his children
By Jonathan Lemire, Eric Tucker
and Jill Colvin
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President
Donald Trump pardoned former chief
strategist Steve Bannon in the fi nal
hours of his White House term as
part of a fl urry of clemency action that
benefi ted more than 140 people, in-
cluding rap performers, ex-members
of Congress and other allies of him
and his family.
The last-minute clemency, an-
nounced after midnight on Wednes-
day, follows separate waves of pardons
over the past month for Trump as-
sociates convicted in the FBI’s Russia
investigation as well as for the father
of his son-in-law.
Taken together, the actions under-
score the president’s willingness, all
the way through his four years in the
White House, to fl ex his constitutional
powers in ways that defy convention
and explicitly aid his friends and sup-
porters.
Trump did not pardon himself,
despite speculation that he would, in
the face of potential federal investi-
gations. He had previously asserted
that he had the authority to do so. He
also did not pardon his children or his
personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
The fi nal list was full of more con-
ventional candidates whose cases had
some prison time, the pardon nullifi es
the prosecution and effectively elimi-
nates any prospect for punishment.
Bannon was charged in August
with duping thousands of donors
who believed their money would be
used to fulfi ll Trump’s chief campaign
promise to build a wall along the
southern border. Instead, he allegedly
diverted over a million dollars, paying
a salary to one campaign offi cial and
personal expenses for himself. His co-
defendants were not pardoned.
“Steve Bannon is getting a pardon
from Trump after defrauding Trump’s
own supporters into paying for a wall
that Trump promised Mexico would
Drew Angerer/Getty Images-TNS pay for,” Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.,
President Donald Trump turns to reporters as he exits the White
said on Twitter. “And if that all sounds
House on Jan. 12, 2021.
crazy, that’s because it is. Thank God
we have only 12 more hours of this
been championed by criminal justice administration to drop an investiga- den of thieves.”
activists. One man who has spent
tion into the looting of a Malaysian
Other presidents have issued con-
nearly 24 years in prison on drug and wealth fund. Another was Ken
troversial pardons before leaving the
weapons charges but had shown ex- Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law White House. But perhaps no other
emplary behavior behind bars had his Jared Kushner who was charged last commander in chief has so enjoyed
sentence commuted. So did a former October with cyberstalking during a using the clemency authority to
Marine sentenced in 2000 in connec- heated divorce.
benefi t not only friends and acquain-
tion with a cocaine conviction.
Bannon’s pardon was especially no- tances but also celebrity defendants
Even so, the names of prominent
table given that the prosecution was and those championed by allies.
Trump allies nonetheless stood out.
still in its early stages and any trial
Wednesday’s list includes its share
One pardon recipient was Elliott
was months away. Whereas pardon
of high-profi le defendants.
Broidy, a prominent Republican
recipients are conventionally thought
Among them were rappers Lil
fundraiser who pleaded guilty last
of as defendants who have faced
Wayne and Kodak Black, both
fall in a scheme to lobby the Trump
justice, often by having served at least convicted in Florida on weapons
Tiger Woods documentary
opens narrative about role
of parents in youth sports
Late last week, I was at
home in front of our fi re-
place as my wife began
to scroll through HBO to
fi nd something to watch
on TV. Not paying atten-
tion, she asked if we could
watch a new documen-
tary that was being promoted
on HBO’s home screen. I
looked up and immediately
recognized the red Nike polo
shirt and the charming smile.
We began the 90-minute
plunge into “Tiger,” part one
of a two-part documentary.
We dove into what life
was like before Tiger became
immensely famous. We began
to garner more of an under-
standing of how early his
career in golf began, as well
as the beginning of his career.
Though the documentary
centers around him, what left
me in shock was the infl uence
and actions of Tiger’s father,
Earl, throughout the earlier
part of his son’s life.
Tiger was born less than a
year after Earl Woods ended
his military career, which
included a stint in Vietnam
with the Green Berets. Before
Tiger turned 2, Earl was
teaching him golf. Once they
realized the extent of Tiger’s
talents, Earl stepped aside to
let others continue to teach,
but his presence never left.
This documentary not only
COREY
KIRK
painted a better picture of
Earl, but also of his wife, Kul-
tida. They wanted the best
for Tiger. But he was so im-
mersed in golf that he never
had a chance to accomplish
something most of us take for
granted.
To be a kid.
The documentary explores
Tiger’s desire to try other
sports, only to be encouraged
by his parents to focus on golf,
because no other sport would
give him such a chance for
success.
So Tiger stayed the course.
Watching this documen-
tary, I felt an overwhelming
sense of relief for how my
parents raised my brothers
and me. We were never told
what sports to play and what
sports not to, we were only
encouraged to give our best
effort.
Playing a multitude of
sports, I’ve seen every kind of
parent. One that sticks out in
my mind was a Little League
teammate whose overbearing
father would lecture him for
the smallest mistake. His son
grew to hate baseball, and he
stopped playing before he got
to high school.
Parents like Earl and Kul-
tida exist in sports, among ev-
ery level of play. Parents who
expect the absolute best out of
their children, and are ready
to help them make the best of
their experiences. They won’t
let any outside noise prevent
them from reaching their full-
est potential.
Don’t get me wrong, talent
at such a young age is hard to
predict. Tiger certainly had it,
and with his father pushing
him, he developed an intense
focus.
I think it’s quite easy to
overlook with the younger
generation the importance
of the numerous lessons you
can learn in sports. It’s an
opportunity to build lifelong
friendships, the ability to
handle your losses as well as
your wins, and to understand
the importance of simply hav-
ing fun.
Some parents will expect
their kids to be the best,
rather than giving their best
effort.
Earl Woods’ approach with
Tiger convinced me that
when that day comes, I want
my kids to enjoy playing the
sports they choose, and rather
than put pressure on them
to compete at a high level, I’ll
tell them to just have fun.
charges. Wayne, whose real name is
Dwayne Michael Carter, has fre-
quently expressed support for Trump
and recently met with the president
on criminal justice issues. Others on
the list included Death Row Records
co-founder Michael Harris and New
York art dealer and collector Hillel
Nahmad.
Pardoned were former Rep. Rick
Renzi, an Arizona Republican who
was sentenced to three years for
corruption, money laundering and
other charges, and former Rep. Randy
“Duke” Cunningham of California,
who was convicted of accepting bribes
from defense contractors. Cunning-
ham, who was released from prison in
2013, received a conditional pardon.
Trump commuted the prison
sentence of former Detroit Mayor
Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served
about seven years behind bars for a
racketeering and bribery scheme.
Trump had already pardoned
a slew of longtime associates and
supporters, including his former
campaign chairman, Paul Manafort;
Charles Kushner, the father of his
son-in-law; his longtime friend and
adviser Roger Stone; and his former
national security adviser Michael
Flynn.
Bannon was the only most recent.
He did not respond to questions.
OREGON STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Beavers end Trojans’ win streak
CORVALLIS (AP) — Jarod Lucas and
Ethan Thompson scored 13 points apiece
and Oregon State beat Southern Califor-
nia 58-56 on Tuesday night, snapping the
Trojans six-game winning streak.
Both teams struggled offensively down
the stretch as Oregon State did not make
a fi eld goal in the fi nal 3:13 and USC did
not score in the last 2:19.
Rodrigue Andela made a pair of foul
shots for the Beavers to cap the scor-
ing with 1:49 left. USC’s Drew Peterson
missed a 3-pointer with fi ve seconds to go.
Roman Silva added 12 points for Oregon
State (7-5, 3-3 Pac-12) on 6-for-7 shooting.
Evan Mobley scored 12 points and Pe-
terson added 10 for the Trojans (11-3, 5-2).
Both teams were 20-for-48 (42%) shoot-
ing. Oregon State was 6 for 15 (40%) from
3-point range and USC 6 for 20 (30%). The
Beavers shot 12 for 14 from the foul line
and USC went 10 for 18.
Oregon State is scheduled to play at No.
21 Oregon on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Be prepared fo
for winter
winte
ter driv
driving
ivving
✓
WINTER
CHECKLIST
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
T RACTION T IRES
S NOW W HEELS
T IRE S TUDS
C HAINS
✓
✓
B ATTERY
S IPING
S ANDBAGS
W IPER B LADES
Lew Brothers Tire Service
Try the SHIP TO STORE feature at
millershomecenter.com
BRINGING QUALITY PRODUCTS
AT AFFORDABLE PRICING TO
EASTERN OREGON
3815 Pocahontas Road, Baker City • 541-523-6404
3109 May Lane, La Grande • 541-963-3113
541-523-3679
210 Bridge St. Baker City, OR