The Trump administration has shut down a federal investigation into how a convicted fraudster secured a commutation of his sentence through the intervention of a Catholic priest with ties to the president.
Prosecutors had been looking into the circumstances surrounding David Gentile's commutation. The case raised questions about whether the clemency decision followed proper channels or involved improper influence.
Gentile's path to a reduced sentence ran through a priest who maintained a connection to the president. That relationship became central to prosecutors' concerns about how the commutation came about.
The closure of the criminal probe means the investigation will not proceed further or result in any charges. It marks another chapter in the administration's handling of clemency matters and the various players involved in securing presidential mercy.
The decision to shutter the investigation comes as the Trump administration continues to exercise broad authority over criminal justice matters. The move reflects the administration's approach to cases it views as settled or resolved.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Killing an investigation into how a clemency got handed out raises hard questions about what the administration wants to keep buried."
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