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Trump Considers Pre-emptive Pardons for Administration Officials
By Drooid · · How we work
Trump Considers Pre-emptive Pardons
President Donald Trump told Time magazine that he is weighing “pre-emptive” pardons for members of his administration before the end of his second term. In the interview, he contrasted his approach with President Joe Biden’s recent pardons, suggesting a similar strategy would protect allies from potential congressional action.
Background: Prior Pardons and the Biden Comparison
Trump has a history of issuing large clemency actions. On the last day of his first term, he granted clemency to 143 individuals, including former chief strategist Steve Bannon. Since then, the Justice Department’s list shows roughly 170 additional pardons and commutations, on top of about 1,500 pardons issued after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Trump referenced Biden’s recent pardons of figures such as former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and staff of the House Jan.
Official Statements & Responses
Trump said the pardons would be a defensive measure against what he expects to be aggressive Democratic oversight if Republicans lose the House majority. He added, “They’ll probably go after me and I’ll go after them.”
The House is slated, after Election Day, to vote on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a measure introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).