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'Best Christmas Present ever': Messages of joy spring up on family's Facebook page

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Evan Liberty is pictured top right. (Courtesy photos)

ROCHESTER - Many refer to 2020 as a rollercoaster year, but most would agree it was all downhill until news that Rochester native Evan Liberty, a former standout hoops player at Spaulding High and decorated Marine, was granted a full pardon on Tuesday in his involvement in a 2007 gunbattle in Iraq that led to the death of 14 Iraqi civilians.

Three other Blackwater guards - Dustin Heard, Nicholas Slatten and Paul Slough - were also pardoned along with Liberty.

Their 2014 trial that lasted two and a half months was fraught with Brady violations and prosecutorial overreach and vindictiveness, defense lawyers argued. During several appeals and resentencings, more evidence showed that the U.S. Justice Dept. had withheld crucial evidence in their zeal for guilty verdicts.

Since the guilty verdicts on Oct. 22, 2014, a torrent of new evidence has proved the prosecution by the U.S. Justice Department was deeply flawed, including the government's admission that they were fired upon during the incident, something they denied in the original trial.

On Tuesday President Trump took it upon himself to right the wrong by granting pardons to Liberty, 38, and the three others imprisoned in the incident.

It didn't take long for Facebook to erupt with joy for the Liberty family, who live in Rochester.

"Thought 2020 was horrible. Turns out the best. God bless," wrote Sandy Lazarus on the Liberty's Facebook page.

"Thank you President Trump for freeing these men and bringing them back to their families," rejoiced Michell Huckins.

Evan Liberty's father, Brian, broke the news to The Rochester Voice on Tuesday evening.

With Christmas around the corner, many saw the richness of the timing.

"Best Christmas present I could have ever imagined. Woo hoo! Raven 23 is free!" added John Morganti.

Several Trump supporters ensnared in the Mueller probe were also pardoned including George Papadopoulos and Dutch lawyer Alex van der Zwaan.

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