President Donald Trump is reportedly considering pardoning two Washington, DC, police officers who were convicted for their involvement in an unauthorized police chase and alleged cover-up in 2020 that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown.
The incident occurred in October 2020 when Officer Terence Sutton and Lt. Andrew Zabavsky of the Metropolitan Police Department pursued Hylton-Brown, who was riding a moped without a helmet, at high speeds. Tragically, Hylton-Brown was struck and killed by an uninvolved motorist during the chase.
Following the fatal collision, investigators found that the officers engaged in a cover-up by turning off their body cameras, tampering with the scene, and providing misleading information to their superiors about the nature of the incident.
Sutton was convicted of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct, and obstruction of justice, receiving a sentence of 66 months in prison. Zabavsky was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice, facing a 48-month prison term.
President Trump has hinted at the possibility of pardoning the officers on multiple occasions, most recently during a press event at the White House. While not explicitly naming Sutton or Zabavsky, Trump indicated his approval of the pardons, emphasizing that the officers were from the Washington, DC, police force.
The DC Police Union has confirmed that they are advocating for the pardon of the two officers, who are currently out on bail pending the outcome of their appeal. Sutton expressed his hope for a pardon, stating that he is praying for the president to make the right decision.
Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the case, Trump's consideration of pardoning the convicted officers has sparked debate and raised questions about the implications of such a decision.
