PresidentDonald Trumppardoneda former GOP governorand a rapper, while commuting the federal sentence of a gang leader convicted of murder, a White House official said on May 28. Trump pardoned former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, whopleaded guiltyin late 2004 to one count of conspiring to commit tax fraud and depriving the public of honest service over $107,000 in gifts he accepted from companies doing business with the state. A decade later, Rowland was convicted of obstructing justice, conspiracy, falsifying government documents, and other violations of campaign finance laws. He served from 1995 to 2004 and was once the youngest governor in the United States. "I am very humbled and appreciative," Rowlandsaid in a statementto local TV station WTNH. "I have been blessed with a wonderful family and friends that have been through a great deal over the years. This is a wonderful final resolution." Trump also pardoned Louisiana-born rapper NBA YoungBoy, whose real name isKentrell Gaulden, who pleaded guilty to a federal gun charge in 2024. Trump also commuted the federal sentence of Larry Hoover, a Chicago gang leader who co-founded the Gangster Disciples and was convicted of murder in 1973. Hoover still must serve state sentences. The moves were part of a fresh wave of pardons by Trump on May 28 that also includeda former U.S. Army officerwho was found guilty by a special court martial during the Biden administration for refusing to follow COVID-19 safety measures,a pair of reality television personalitiesand former U.S. Rep.Michael Grimm, a New York Republican who resigned after being convicted of tax fraud. Contributing: Joey Garrison,Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Catalina Camia, Taijuan Moorman This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:President Donald Trump pardons former governor, rapper
