On Friday, Donald Trump pardoned four Blackwater mercenaries who were convicted of massacring Iraqi civilians in Nisour Square, Baghdad. According to author Stephen O’Brien, the decision to offer clemency to the military contractors could be a sign of the president’s future plans.
“DJT pardoning Erik Prince mercenaries sound a hell of a lot like he wants a private army,” he tweeted.
As reported by The New York Times, Trump pardoned former Blackwater mercenaries Nicholas Slatten, Evan Liberty, Paul Slough, and Dustin Heard, all of whom were allegedly involved in the murder of 17 Iraqi civilians — including two boys aged 8 and 11. The publication noted that the Department of Justice made significant efforts to prosecute Slatten, who was sentenced to life in prison before Trump’s pardon. Supporters of the mercenaries claimed they were unjustly punished for their crimes and argued that the investigation and prosecution were marred with concerning issues, MarketWatch wrote.
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