Trump pardons jailed rapper Lil Wayne hours before end of his presidency

WASHINGTON (AGENCIES) – Outgoing President Donald Trump has reportedly granted clemency to US rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black.

Only hours before President-elect Joe Biden is to be sworn in, Trump executed the highly anticipated pardoning of Lil Wayne, according to Reuters reporter Steve Holland.

Dozens more are expected to follow.

Lil Wayne last year pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded, gold-plated hand gun.

The rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, had a gun and ammunition on December 23 despite knowing he had the previous felony on his record, court documents showed.

Authorities said the rapper acknowledged owning the gold-plated handgun after his luggage was searched when he arrived in Miami on a private plane.

All eyes are now firmly on Tiger King star Joe Exotic, whose legal team earlier said they were “100 per cent confident” of a presidential pardon.

Perhaps most surprising is President Trump deciding to pardon his former chief strategist Steve Bannon in a last-minute decision.

Trump told people that after much deliberation, he had decided to pardon Bannon as one of his final acts in office.

What is a presidential pardon?

Under article two of the United States constitution, presidents enjoy broad and unchallengeable powers to pardon individuals for federal crimes.

The ability is “without limit”, according to the Supreme Court.

Trump isn’t alone in capitalising on the ability in his final days in office.

One of the most contentious implementations of the policy came when President Gerald Ford pardoned disgraced former President Richard Nixon in 1974 after the Watergate scandal.