A GOP supporter and Trump reelection campaign donor was among the pardons issued by President Donald Trump Tuesday.
Paul Pogue, a former owner of a Texas construction company pleaded guilty in 2010 to filing a false tax return. He was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine and over $473,000 in restitution.
His company, Pogue Construction, is now run by his son Ben Pogue, who donated $85,000 last year to Trump Victory, the joint committee fundraising for Trump’s reelection campaign and the Republican National Committee.
In a statement, the White House emphasized Pogue’s charity efforts, and noted that he pleaded guilty “to avoid the cost and burden of fighting the charges, which could have put at risk the jobs of the 150 people employed by his company.”
“To avoid the cost and burden of fighting the charges, which could have put at risk the jobs of the 150 people employed by his company, Mr. Pogue agreed to plead guilty and was sentenced to 3 years of probation. Despite his conviction, Mr. Pogue never stopped his charitable work,” the statement reads.
It added, “For more than 30 years, he has provided significant humanitarian aid to countries around the world, including Africa, India, and Mexico, all while continuing to help his fellow Americans in times of need,” the statement said.
Trump’s clemency spree on Tuesday resulted in the pardons and commutations of 11 people, including former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and former New York Police Department commissioner Bernie Kerik.
