There has been speculation for weeks that Donald Trump would start issuing a large number of pardons and today he did just that. Many are calling this the first wave of pardons. The New York Times writes:

In an audacious pre-Christmas round of pardons, President Trump granted clemency on Tuesday to two people convicted in the special counsel’s Russia inquiry, four Blackwater guards convicted in connection with the killing of Iraqi civilians and three corrupt former Republican members of Congress.

Also: Two former Border Patrol agents who shot an undocumented immigrant fleeing arrest.
And then there are 4 nonviolent drug offenders whose pardons Alice Marie Johnson advocated for

— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) December 23, 2020

Hunter was set to start serving prison time next month on a charge of misusing campaign funds.

BREAKING: Trump pardons two former congressman convicted of felonies — Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter.

He also pardons Mueller figures @GeorgePapa19 and Alex Van Der Zwaan. pic.twitter.com/6aZwy4VdUI

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 23, 2020

There is no indication that these pardons went through the Justice Department or followed proper protocol.

*This is a developing story, check back for more