Philip Esformes, who was convicted of leading one of the largest-ever health-care frauds, was freed from prison by President Donald Trump. Now, President Biden’s Justice Department is moving to try him again.
Less than five years into a 20-year sentence for his role in a massive fraud scheme — bankrolling a highflying Miami Beach lifestyle of luxury cars, designer clothing and high-priced escorts — Esformes walked out of federal prison thanks to Donald Trump, who granted him clemency in the waning days of his presidency.
At stake is whether the government’s move to reprosecute the architect of one of the largest-ever health-care scams undermines Trump’s decision based on presidential powers laid out in the Constitution and historically considered the last word on a criminal conviction.
The highly unusual decision to retry a clemency recipient on hung charges has emerged as yet another flash point in the broader battle between the far right, which portrays the Justice Department as an arm of an out-of-control “deep state” opposed to anyone associated with Trump, and law-and-order proponents seeking to defend institutions of democracy against incursions by the former president and his allies.
In recent months, House Republicans orchestrated a hearing portraying the case against Esformes as a political attack, while an array of Trump acolytes have taken to conservative airwaves and social media to denounce the Justice Department.
“He has internalized his punishment on a very deep level and spends literally 18+ hours a day in study and prayer, seeking G-d’s forgiveness for his prior conduct,” according to the memo, using a shorthand for God preferred by some in the Jewish faith.
The publicity about the wedding drew attention to the treatment the business executive had received from the White House, allowing him to leapfrog over the thousands of inmates and ex-convicts who had filed formal clemency requests with the Justice Department.
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Less than five years into a 20-year sentence for his role in a massive fraud scheme — bankrolling a highflying Miami Beach lifestyle of luxury cars, designer clothing and high-priced escorts — Esformes walked out of federal prison thanks to Donald Trump, who granted him clemency in the waning days of his presidency.
At stake is whether the government’s move to reprosecute the architect of one of the largest-ever health-care scams undermines Trump’s decision based on presidential powers laid out in the Constitution and historically considered the last word on a criminal conviction.
The highly unusual decision to retry a clemency recipient on hung charges has emerged as yet another flash point in the broader battle between the far right, which portrays the Justice Department as an arm of an out-of-control “deep state” opposed to anyone associated with Trump, and law-and-order proponents seeking to defend institutions of democracy against incursions by the former president and his allies.
In recent months, House Republicans orchestrated a hearing portraying the case against Esformes as a political attack, while an array of Trump acolytes have taken to conservative airwaves and social media to denounce the Justice Department.
“He has internalized his punishment on a very deep level and spends literally 18+ hours a day in study and prayer, seeking G-d’s forgiveness for his prior conduct,” according to the memo, using a shorthand for God preferred by some in the Jewish faith.
The publicity about the wedding drew attention to the treatment the business executive had received from the White House, allowing him to leapfrog over the thousands of inmates and ex-convicts who had filed formal clemency requests with the Justice Department.
The original article contains 3,257 words, the summary contains 277 words. Saved 91%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!