Trump pardons a cast of controversial characters | First Thing

President pardons 15 people including perpetrators of a massacre in Iraq, and threatens not to sign $900bn aid package. Plus, why Walmart is being sued over the opioid crisis

• Don't already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here

Good morning.

Donald Trump has approved a wave of pre-Christmas pardons, including disgraced Republican lawmakers, contractors convicted of a massacre in Iraq, and a former campaign aide who pleaded guilty to lying to federal officials in the Russia investigation. The move drew strong criticism from Democrats, accusing him of offering clemency to corrupt" politicians, whose profiles you can read here.