President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House Tuesday in Washington. On Wednesday, Trump pardoned two former Washington, D.C., police officers convicted in the death of a man killed during a deadly chase. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
"I just approved it," Trump said during a press conference. "They arrested the two officers to put them in jail for going after a criminal."
In a statement Tuesday, the union said both men were wrongly convicted and maliciously prosecuted.
"These officers — men of integrity and dedication — were targeted by corrupt prosecutors who weaponized the legal system against them," the union said.
Sutton was convicted and sentenced to 66 months in prison for Hylton-Brown's death, while Zabavsky was sentenced to a 48-month prison term.
District of Columbia police show an almost constant presence at the intersection of 5th St NW and Kennedy St NW, where police initiated a chase that led to the death of Karon Hylton, 20. He was killed in a collision with a car while riding a rented moped in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23, 2020. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Prosecutors alleged both officers conspired to hide the events that led to Hylton's death, such as failing to tell superior officers about the seriousness of his injuries.
Prosecutors also claimed the officers deactivated their body cameras minutes after the collision and failed to take statements from witnesses.
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-pardons-former-dc-police-officers-convicted-death-man-during-deadly-pursuit