RNC speakers are trying to portray Trump as the “law and order” president, but his actions tell a different story. Trump repeatedly put his own interests above the law and used his pardon power to help him politically.

Trump bypassed the pardon office while granting clemency to well-connected offenders.

Washington Post: “Most of Trump’s grants of clemency have gone to ­well-connected offenders who had not filed petitions with the pardon office or did not meet its requirements, The Post review shows.”

Trump ignored thousands who were seeking clemency through the official process.

Washington Post: “As the administration takes its cues from celebrities, political allies and Fox News, thousands of other offenders who followed Justice Department rules are waiting, passed over as cases that were brought directly to Trump leaped to the front of the line… Trump’s decisions on only 204 petitions means that nearly 13,000 people are waiting.”

Trump has used his pardon power to downplay white-collar crimes and normalize corruption.

Los Angeles Times Editorial: “In granting clemency to Blagojevich and Kerik, Trump, who has spoken in lurid terms about street crime, seemed to be less bothered by crimes involving white-collar defendants and corrupt public officials.”

Trump used the possibility of pardons for his advisers, including Roger Stone, to encourage them not to incriminate him.

Washington Post: “Trump had long floated the idea of clemency for Stone — as well as for other associates in legal trouble, including his former national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign chairman Paul Manafort — which itself was viewed by some as witness tampering by encouraging them not to cooperate with prosecutors.