Just before leaving office, President Joe Biden issued a slew of pardons including for Jerry Lundergan, the former head of the Kentucky state Democratic Party. In an executive grant of clemency dated Jan. 19, Biden granted a full and unconditional pardon to Lundergan.
President Biden’s final day in office was Monday, the day after he issued the pardon, which was issued alongside preemptive pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci, members of the Jan. 6 committee and participants in its investigation, and a number of other people.
Here’s what to know about Lundergan and the crime for which he received the executive grant of clemency.
Who is Jerry Lundergan?
The 77-year-old Lexington businessman is the former Kentucky state Democratic Party chief and father of Alison Lundergan Grimes, who served as Kentucky’s secretary of state from 2012 through 2019 and ran against U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014.
What was Jerry Lundergan’s crime?
Jerry Lundergan, left, and Martha Layne Collins and other supporters of Alison Lundergan Grimes wait for her arrival before her debate with Sen. Mitch McConnell outside the KET studios in Lexington. Oct. 13, 2014
Lundergan was convicted in 2019 following an investigation into claims he’d made illegal donations to his daughter’s 2014 Senate campaign and then attempted to cover his tracks. A jury convicted Lundergan on charges that he broke federal law by paying for approximately $200,000 for goods and services that benefitted his daughter’s campaign. Defense attorneys for Lundergan argued he’d made innocent mistakes and did not knowingly violate the law.
Did Jerry Lundergan spend time behind bars?
Lundergan was issued a $150,000 fine and received a 21-month prison sentence along with two years of supervised release. Due to severe health issues, Lundergan was released from custody in January 2023 without serving his full sentence.
What did Jerry Lundergan have to say about his Presidential pardon?
A news release provided by Lundergan’s attorney J. Guthrie True contained the following statement from Lundergan regarding his pardon:
“I have taken responsibility for my actions, sought atonement, and am working to make a positive difference in the lives of the most vulnerable, including the homeless, those recovering from addiction, and those re-entering society. I am grateful for the President’s action; it offers healing to my family and confirms that our justice system is grounded in forgiveness.”
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Who is Jerry Lundergan pardoned by outgoing President Joe Biden
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