PARDONS
On Jan. 22, President Trump granted a “full and unconditional” pardon to Terence Sutton.
WHO IS TERENCE SUTTON? Terence Sutton served as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C., where his career spanned 13 years in the Fourth District. During his tenure, he built a reputation for high performance and received multiple commendations, including being named Metropolitan Police Officer of the Year in 2012.
The Fatal Pursuit
On October 23, 2020, Sutton became pursued 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown, who was riding a moped without a helmet through the streets of Washington, D.C. The chase, which lasted approximately three minutes and covered 10 city blocks, ended in tragedy when Hylton-Brown collided with a civilian vehicle. He sustained severe injuries in the crash and later died.
Legal Proceedings
The incident prompted a criminal investigation, leading to serious charges against Sutton. Prosecutors alleged that he had violated MPD policy regarding vehicle pursuits and that his actions directly contributed to Hylton-Brown’s death. In late 2022, following a nine-week trial, a jury found Sutton guilty on all charges, including second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice and ostruction of justice.
On Sept. 12, 2024, Sutton was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison.
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On Jan. 22, President granted a “full and unconditional” pardon to Andrew Zabavsky.
Andrew Zabavsky is a former lieutenant of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C. He gained national attention due to his involvement in a controversial incident in 2020 that resulted in the death of Karon Hylton-Brown.
Following the incident, Zabavsky was accused of participating in a cover-up attempt. Zabavsky was subsequently convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. In September 2024, he was sentenced to 48 months (4 years) in prison. However, he remained free while appealing his conviction
NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:
Michael Boren, of Idaho, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment, vice Homer L. Wilkes, resigned.
Steven Bradbury, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation, vice Polly Ellen Trottenberg, resigned.
William Briggs, of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration, vice Dilawar Syed, resigned.
James Danly, of Tennessee, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy, vice David Turk, resigned.
Richard Fordyce, of Missouri, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation, vice Robert Farrell Bonnie, resigned.
David Fotouhi, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, vice Janet Garvin McCabe.
Kenneth Kies, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, vice Lily Lawrence Batchelder.
Michael Kratsios, of South Carolina, to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, vice Arati Prabhakar.
Paul Lawrence, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, vice Tanya J. Bradsher, resigned.
Katharine MacGregor, of Florida, to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior, vice Tommy P. Beaudreau, resigned.
Casey Mulligan, of Illinois, to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration, vice Darryl L. DePriest, resigned.
William Pulte, of Florida, to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency for a term of five years, vice Sandra L. Thompson.
Penny Schwinn, of Tennessee, to be Deputy Secretary of Education, vice Cynthia Minette Marten, resigned.
Executive Order: Re-designation the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
The order directed the Secretary of State, in consultation with others, to evaluate and recommend potential re-designation of Ansar Allah (also known as the Houthis) within 30 days
The United States will work with regional partners to counter Houthi capabilities and attacks on U.S. per1sonnel, civilians, partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department are directed to review nited Nations partners, nongovernmental organizations, and contractors operating in Yemen.
Following this review, the President will direct USAID to end its relationship with entities that have made payments to the Houthis, or which have opposed international efforts to counter the Houthis while turning a blind eye towards the Houthis’ terrorism and abuses.