Donald Trump Issues Full Pardons For Convicted Oregon Arsonists

Steven Hammond (L) and Dwight Hammond Jr. (R)

You may recall the sad tale of Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son Steven Hammond who, in 2012, were convicted in of arson.

The two men were sentenced to five years in prison in 2016 for setting fire to public land over a dispute regarding grazing rights for their cattle. The incident escalated giving rise to an armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Today, the White House announced that Donald Trump has commuted the mens' sentences calling them 'devoted family men' and 'respected contributors to their local community.'

From the White House:

The Hammonds are devoted family men, respected contributors to their local community, and have widespread support from their neighbors, local law enforcement, and farmers and ranchers across the West. Justice is overdue for Dwight and Steven Hammond, both of whom are entirely deserving of these Grants of Executive Clemency.

Some Trump pardons:

1) Sheriff who refused to comply with court orders

2) Political activist who committed campaign finance fraud

3) Ranchers who committed arson

4) Former WH official who committed perjury

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) July 10, 2018

Twice this past month, Trump has added “firefighters” to the usual list of people he says he’s standing up for, along with ICE and the military. Steven Hammond was convicted of setting a 2006 fire that jeopardized the lives of four federal firefighters he knew were nearby.

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) July 10, 2018

As an American, I am dismayed to learn of the pardons issued to Dwight and Steven Hammond. As an Oregonian, I'm disgusted. They are arsonists and have caused nothing but harm to our state and country. What of the jobs lost, the laws broken and the money spent on these criminals?

— Shelley Engle (@shellspdx) July 10, 2018