President Donald J. Trump does not have the best relationship with the National Football players after dozens disrespected the national anthem this last season by kneeling as a form of anti-police violence protest. But, on Friday the commander-in-chief expressed his desire to listen to pardon recommendations from NFL players. (via NBC Sports)
“I am going to ask all of those people to recommend to me — because that’s what they’re protesting — people that they think were unfairly treated by the justice system,” Trump said. “And I understand that. And I’m going to ask them to recommend to me people that were unfairly treated — friends of theirs or people that they know about — and I’m going to take a look at those applications. And if I find, and my committee finds that they are unfairly treated, then we will pardon them or at least let them out (of prison).”
The Giants Lawrence Tynes already offered up one suggestion as to who should receive a pardon.
Mark R. Tynes inmate #05559-017 serving 27 years. Currently in year 16 for selling weed. https://t.co/DHC3kkkO3v
— Lawrence Tynes (@lt4kicks) June 8, 2018
The recommendation through Twitter seems to be President Trump’s preferred method of communication. He does not want a sit down event which he deemed as “grandstanding.”
“When asked if he’d invite players to the White House for a roundtable chat, the president said he doesn’t have to do that.
“You know, I don’t have to do that,” Trump said “I’m not looking to grandstand. We’ve got enough grandstanders in this town.
“I’m just saying, for the leagues, if they have people — if the players, if the athletes have friends of theirs or people that they know about that have been unfairly treated by the system, let me know.”
President Trump's willingness to at least listen to cases of injustice is part of his ongoing criminal justice reform policy.