Their cause also was championed by Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran. Survivor of Baghdad Blackwater massacre slams Donald Trump's pardon for the four guards convicted of killings as Democrats warn it will cause chaos in … Liberty is one of four former Blackwater contractors pardoned … While the pardons may be inhumane and a gross invalidation of international law and human rights, they do not violate international law as interpreted by U.S. domestic courts. Paul Dickinson, ... the Blackwater pardons would be it. Remember their names â- pardons or not these #Blackwater guards are war criminals and terrorists. Blackwater changed its name to Xe after the convictions and then again to Academi after Erik Prince sold the company. The Blackwater firm, whose name has since changed, was founded by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince, a ⦠Particularly, the UN said on Wednesday that the move to pardon the mercenaries is in violation of international law. The first of what may be many presidential pardons from Donald Trump’s final weeks in … This combination photo shows Blackwater guards, from left, Dustin Heard, Evan Liberty, Nicholas Slatten, and Paul Slough. A short documentary by the same name contains an in-depth interview with Aliâs father. Among those pardoned were Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard. Outrage erupts over Trump pardons of convicted Blackwater murderers and corrupt GOP congressmen. A statement from the White Residence recommended the pardons for the 4 former Blackwater guards were being âbroadly supported by the public,â pointing to acceptance from people like Fox Newsâ Pete Hegseth and a checklist of Republican lawmakers in Congress. In this Dec. 31, 2020, file photo pardoned Blackwater contractor Evan ⦠The Blackwater firm, whose name has since changed, was founded by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince, a Trump ally whose sister, Betsy DeVos, is education secretary. AP Picture/File. A US federal court found Mr Slatten guilty of murder, while the other Blackwater ⦠If the names are unfamiliar, you might recognize them collectively as the Blackwater … President Trumpâs pardon of four Blackwater mercenaries, tried and convicted of mass murder in Baghdad during the Iraq War, is a clear signal that American soldiers and the ⦠Last week, President Trump pardoned the Blackwater contractors who were involved in the heinous crime of civilians’ killing in … +13. President issues a total of 15 pardons, including Republicans who were strong and early supporters and a 2016 campaign official ensnared in the Russia probe By Eric Tucker 23 … Liberty is one of four former Blackwater contractors pardoned by President Donald Trump in one of his final acts in office, wiping away their convictions in a 2007 shooting rampage in Baghdad that killed more than a dozen Iraqi civilians. President Trump’s pardon of four Blackwater mercenaries, tried and convicted of mass murder in Baghdad during the Iraq War, is a clear signal that American soldiers and the … Blackwater Pardons were the Right Call. More. All modern presidents of the United States have had the constitutional right to pardon individuals for nearly any federal crime committed in the country. The youngest victim of the infamous Nisour Square massacre was a 9-year-old boy who was shot in the head while sitting in a car. Along with Trump’s pardoning of corrupt, criminally convicted political allies, the president granted perhaps his most shocking pardons on Dec. 22 for the four former Blackwater security contractors involved in the killings of more than a dozen unarmed Iraqi civilians in 2007. Blackwaterâs Bullets Scarred Iraqis. 1 month ago. Seventeen unarmed Iraqi citizens died in Baghdadâs Nisour Square in September 2007, and at least two dozen more were wounded when guards working for the contractor Blackwater USA opened fire into the square with machine guns, grenade launchers, and other weapons. President Trumpâs pardon of four Blackwater guards convicted in the killing of 14 Iraqi civilians was "disgraceful," Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., asserted Saturday. Trump issued pardons to seven Republican congressmen convicted of crimes: Chris … In conclusion, the Blackwater pardons undermine the purpose and object of the Geneva Conventions as well as the U.S. War Crimes statute. At least eight former service members and Blackwater security guards convicted of war crimes have filed petitions seeking pardons or clemency from … Blackwater Worldwide security guards Paul Slough, Evan … President Donald Trump's decision to pardon four Blackwater private security contractors convicted of a massacre in Baghdad has been met with fury by … Erik Prince, who founded Blackwater, has been a strong Trump supporter; his sister, Betsy DeVos, was serving in Trumpâs cabinet as Secretary of Education when the pardons were granted. Their cause also was championed by Fox News personality Pete Hegseth In these various file photos, Blackwater guards, from left, Dustin Heard, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Nicholas. (AP Photo) After pardon, Blackwater guard defiant: 'I acted correctly' Eric Tucker. Trumpâs approach to pardons has been heavily influenced by personal appeals from allies. Trump pardons Tennessee men who were Blackwater guards involved in Iraq massacre. Prior to their pardons, the group waged a long battle against their various guilty convictions. Recently, President Trump announced that he would be issuing a pardon for four members of the group who were convicted of a massacre in Iraq. Trump pardons Blackwater contractors convicted of Iraq massacre The incident in Baghdad's Nisoor Square deeply strained US-Iraqi ties and marred the reputation of the paramilitary company. They were given lengthy prison sentences for their crimes, but ⦠An Iraqi woman walks past a burned car on Sept. 24, 2007, at the site where Blackwater guards opened fire in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Yarmukh. Trump pardons of Blackwater contractors an ‘insult to justice’ Lawyers and rights defenders say pardons of men convicted in killings of 14 Iraqis undoes years-long fight for … After Pardon, Blackwater Guard Defiant: âI Acted Correctlyâ. Historically, presidential pardons have been reserved for nonviolent crimes, not manslaughter or murder, and the traditional process led by the Justice Department values acceptance of responsibility and remorse from those convicted of crimes. The Blackwater contractors meet none of that criteria. Prior to their pardons, the group waged a long battle against their various guilty convictions. UN hits Trump over Blackwater pardons, says move 'contributes to impunity' ... Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name ⦠AdChoices. After Trump Pardon for Massacre, Blackwater Guard Defiant: ‘I Acted Correctly’ The Blackwater firm, whose name has since changed, was founded by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince, a Trump ally whose sister, Betsy DeVos, is education secretary. Published January 2. President Trump Makes the Tough and Correct Call on the Blackwater Pardons. Attorney for Blackwater murder victim: Trump's pardons "a slap in the face" to U.S. justice "The families believed in justice," lawyer says. So, why did Trump pardon the four Blackwater guards? Attorney for Blackwater murder victim: Trump's pardons "a slap in the face" to U.S. justice "The families believed in justice," lawyer says. Supporters of the former contractors at Blackwater Worldwide had lobbied for the pardons, arguing that the men had been excessively punished ⦠Blackwater as in the mercenary group that can be hired by anyone in order to commit crime aka false flags 101. Copy link to paste in your message. The four contractors, who worked for the private security firm Blackwater owned by the brother of Trump’s education secretary, were included in a wave of pre-Christmas pardons … A group of UN experts* said the pardons granted to four convicted private security contractors for war crimes in Iraq violated US obligations under international law, and called on all States parties to the Geneva Conventions to condemn the pardons. The Nisour Square massacre occurred on September 16, 2007, when employees of Blackwater Security Consulting (now Academi), a private military company contracted by the US government to provide security services in Iraq, shot at Iraqi civilians, killing 17 and injuring 20 in Nisour Square, Baghdad, while escorting a U.S. embassy convoy. Devos' brother, Erik Prince, is the founder of the Blackwater group, a group of private security contractors who have worked in tandem with U.S. troops abroad. ZIONSHEKELSTEIN. In this Dec. 31, 2020, photo, pardoned Blackwater contractor Evan Liberty poses for a photo in Washington. Trump pardoned the four guards on December 22. Horrified by the Blackwater Pardons The F.B.I. The Blackwater firm, whose name has since changed, was founded by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince, a Trump ally whose sister, Betsy DeVos, is education secretary. Blackwater Pardons In this Dec. 31, 2020, file photo pardoned Blackwater contractor Evan Liberty poses for a photo in Washington. Liberty is one of four former Blackwater contractors pardoned by President Donald Trump in one of his final acts in office, wiping away their convictions in a 2007 shooting rampage in Baghdad that killed more than a dozen Iraqi civilians. On September 16, 2007, seventeen Iraqi civilians died in a botched security operation by the private security company (PSC) Blackwater USA. (AP Photo/File) But what most don’t realize is that these pardons are likely favours considering Blackwater is run by Erik Prince the brother of none other than outgoing Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos — the billionaire hack that nearly took out the US education … The pardons were met with intense condemnation both in the United States and the Middle East. The Blackwater guards that Trump pardoned were convicted of opening fire on and killing Iraqi civilians, including children, in the 2007 Nisour Square Massacre in Baghdad. By the way they changed their name from blackwater to Xe Services in 2009 and known as Academi since 2011 after the company was acquired by a group of private investors. The youngest victim of the 2007 massacre in Baghdadâs Nisour Square, committed by Blackwater mercenaries whom Donald Trump pardoned on ⦠Jan. 2, 2021, at 3:05 p.m. After Pardon, Blackwater Guard Defiant: âI Acted Correctlyâ. article. Trump’s pardon of the Blackwater mercenaries who murdered 14 Iraqi civilians at Nisour Square shows the world what justice means in the United … Trump Blackwater Pardons Have Democrat Freaking Out. Trump’s approach to pardons have been heavily influenced by personal appeals from allies. agent who led the Blackwater investigation and two other letter writers are appalled by the pardon … The Blackwater firm, whose name has since changed, was founded by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince, a Trump ally whose sister, Betsy DeVos, is education secretary. The four contractors, who worked for the private security firm Blackwater owned by the brother of Trump’s education secretary, were included in a wave of pre-Christmas pardons … The list did not include any members of the Trump family or other notable figures whose names had come up in recent speculation about pardons, such as Rudy Giuliani, Julian Assange or Edward Snowden. Trump's approach to pardons have been heavily influenced by personal appeals from allies. By James Durso and Christopher Mayer. Several years later, four Blackwater security guards were held accountable and convicted of charges ranging from ⦠Trumpâs Pardon Renewed the Pain: Iraqi witnesses against Blackwater guards were promised justice after a mass killing in Baghdad in 2007. âToday,â one said, the bullets still in his leg, âthey proved to me it was just theater.â Their cause also was championed by Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, an Army veteran. Trump's Blackwater Guard Pardons Cause Shock And Dismay "We were surprised that the American president issued a decision to pardon these … By G. McConway on December 30, 2020 Last week, Trump did a second round of pardons and some of them raised a few eyebrows. Blackwater guard defiant after pardon: âI acted correctlyâ. In February 2009, Blackwater changed its name to Xe Services LLC and restructured the company. “Disgusting,” said Mark Hertling, retired 3-star general who commanded the 1st Armored Division and international troops in northern Iraq during the war: “...in my view the pardon of the Blackwater employees is the most egregious and disgusting of @realDonaldTrump actions. Some of Trump’s former associates were pardoned, as expected, but there were also a few other names that were recommended. The Blackwater firm, whose name has since changed, was founded by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince, a Trump ally whose sister, Betsy DeVos, is education secretary. Iraqis, of course, recognized President Trumpâs clemency for the four Blackwater contractors who murdered 17 men, women and children at Baghdadâs Nisour Square for what it is.