Trump's Pardon of Convicted Drug Smuggler Disrupts DOJ Probe

Jonathan Braun's pardon, linked to the Kushner family, undercuts a Justice Department investigation into the predatory lending industry.

Jonathan Braun, a convicted drug smuggler, was pardoned by Donald Trump on his last day in office, which reportedly disrupted a Justice Department probe into the predatory lending industry.
Braun, who had ties to the Kushner family, was serving a 10-year prison sentence for money laundering and running an international marijuana smuggling ring at the time of his pardon.
The Justice Department was reportedly negotiating a deal with Braun to fast-track his sentence in exchange for his cooperation in a separate investigation into the predatory lending industry.
Braun was also involved in the predatory lending industry, allegedly advancing about $80 million with interest rates often higher than 1,000% yearly.
The pardon reportedly came about through Braun's connection to the Kushner family, with Braun's father seeking help from Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner's father, to secure the pardon.