Jimmy Higgins
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WASHINGTON DC -- As Thanksgiving's arrival is less than two weeks away, what were rumors are now becoming fears as White House officials are confirming that President Trump is seriously giving thought to cancelling the Turkey Pardon, an event that dates back several decades. While the President had published Tweets indicating this possibility, it wasn't certain whether he was actually being serious.
"The President believes that pardoning turkeys is anti-Thanksgiving, and feels it sends the wrong message," noted one official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of being exposed as working in the Trump Administration.
Turkey pardons extend back to the 1940s and were originally enacted in order to appease hostile vegetarians whose infamous Thanksgiving protests in the 30's and 40's were notoriously violent. The event wouldn't become an annual tradition, however, until 1989 under President George HW Bush in a kickoff event poorly named "The Nation Gives the Bird it's Day".
Extending beyond this year's pardon, officials have also indicated that Trump is considering going even further and rescinding pardons dating back to 2009. The President's reservations regarding the pardons include questionable histories of previously pardoned birds under Obama, especially when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State. Allegations have been raised regarding the 2012 pardon where an alleged deal included a Rockingham County farm providing a substantial donation to the Clinton Foundation in exchange for the pardoning of two of their birds.
This would be the second time a Clinton was involved in questionable pardons for cash allegations. President Clinton was suspected of trading pardons for money in the cases of both Marc Rich and the dog who played Eddie on the hit sitcom Frasier.
Lawyers for the turkeys, both for the candidates this year and the pardoned ones from the last eight years, have been scrambling around in an effort to determine legal options. "It is generally understood that a pardon is final," noted Chad Lipowitz, a lawyer representing Tater and Tot, the two turkeys pardoned by President Obama last Thanksgiving. "However, it is unclear if these protections apply to fowl. The Supreme Court may need to decide."
It is uncertain when President Trump will make a final decision regarding this year's and the previous pardons, however, the lawyers for the birds have stated that they already have paperwork filled out and are ready to file injunctions if necessary to protect their clients.
"The President believes that pardoning turkeys is anti-Thanksgiving, and feels it sends the wrong message," noted one official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fear of being exposed as working in the Trump Administration.
Turkey pardons extend back to the 1940s and were originally enacted in order to appease hostile vegetarians whose infamous Thanksgiving protests in the 30's and 40's were notoriously violent. The event wouldn't become an annual tradition, however, until 1989 under President George HW Bush in a kickoff event poorly named "The Nation Gives the Bird it's Day".
Extending beyond this year's pardon, officials have also indicated that Trump is considering going even further and rescinding pardons dating back to 2009. The President's reservations regarding the pardons include questionable histories of previously pardoned birds under Obama, especially when Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State. Allegations have been raised regarding the 2012 pardon where an alleged deal included a Rockingham County farm providing a substantial donation to the Clinton Foundation in exchange for the pardoning of two of their birds.
This would be the second time a Clinton was involved in questionable pardons for cash allegations. President Clinton was suspected of trading pardons for money in the cases of both Marc Rich and the dog who played Eddie on the hit sitcom Frasier.
Lawyers for the turkeys, both for the candidates this year and the pardoned ones from the last eight years, have been scrambling around in an effort to determine legal options. "It is generally understood that a pardon is final," noted Chad Lipowitz, a lawyer representing Tater and Tot, the two turkeys pardoned by President Obama last Thanksgiving. "However, it is unclear if these protections apply to fowl. The Supreme Court may need to decide."
It is uncertain when President Trump will make a final decision regarding this year's and the previous pardons, however, the lawyers for the birds have stated that they already have paperwork filled out and are ready to file injunctions if necessary to protect their clients.
