Trump Pardons 2 D.C. Officers Convicted in Fatal Chase and Cover-Up
New York TimesJan 23
Trump Pardons DC Officers Convicted in Fatal Moped Chase
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Above: US Pres. Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address Jan. 20, 2025. Image copyright: Chip Somodevilla/Contributor/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
US Pres. Donald Trump on Wednesday granted full and unconditional pardons to former DC Metropolitan Police Department officers Terence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky, who were convicted in connection with a 2020 fatal police chase and subsequent cover-up attempt.
In October 2020, Sutton pursued Karon Hylton-Brown, who was riding a moped without a helmet, for over 10 blocks at high speeds, violating department policy prohibiting chases for minor traffic violations.
Hylton-Brown, age 20, died after being struck by an uninvolved vehicle while exiting an alley during the pursuit. Prosecutors alleged the officers conspired to cover up the circumstances of the crash.
The Spin
Republican narrative
These officers deserve clemency because they were unfairly targeted by politically motivated prosecutors in an unprecedented case that criminalized standard police work. The tragic outcome resulted from Hylton-Brown's decision to flee a lawful stop, not from any criminal conduct by the officers, who were simply performing their duties.
Democratic narrative
These officers don't deserve these pardons. They caused a man's death and conspired to cover up their misconduct. Their actions were a disservice to the community and to other officers who work within constitutional bounds. This just goes to show Trump is willing to pardon violent criminals as long as they fit his political ideology.
