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Convicted criminals are reportedly paying tens-of-thousands of dollars to President Donald Trump's associates to lobby him for a pardon.
Mr Trump is preparing an expansive list of more than 100 pardons and commutations for release tomorrow - the penultimate day of his Presidency.
Meanwhile, the FBI is vetting all 25,000 National Guard troops coming into Washington DC for Joe Biden's inauguration into the office, fearing an insider attack.
Nita Blake-Persen speaks to RNZ's correspondent in Washington, Simon Marks.