President Trump has openly discussed the possibility of preemptively pardoning himself and his adult children before leaving office in recent days amid the takeover of the U.S. Capitol by rioters.
The New York Times reports that two people with knowledge of the discussions verified that the president had raised the issue in recent days; the move, never before attempted by a U.S. president, would be of questionable legality as experts disagree over whether a president has the power to unilaterally declare himself above the law before leaving office.
The Times reports that Trump has fretted openly about the possibility of a Justice Department controlled by President-elect Joe Biden launching investigations into him and his family following his departure from the White House. Calls to prosecute the president on the left and among some Republicans sharply grew Wednesday following the dramatic scene in Washington, D.C., where rioters — directed by Trump to “walk down to the Capitol” after departing his rally — broke through police barricades, windows and locked doors and entered the Capitol.
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JUST IN: Trump has suggested he wants to pardon himself: report https://t.co/Ff4m29R0Va pic.twitter.com/X0X3s2bWWU
— The Hill (@thehill) January 7, 2021
Another good reason for the House to send articles of impeachment to the Senate is that the Senate could sit on them for the rest of this Congress. At any point, they could convict Trump and bar him from public life. It's useful both before and after January 20th. https://t.co/UvbxdepJe8
— Ryan Ellis (@RyanLEllis) January 7, 2021
A self-pardon is definitely an impeachable offense. https://t.co/gPGxBzHQxa https://t.co/EFdWUNgFM1
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) January 7, 2021
I had some issues of policy with the Obama Administration. But I don’t remember a long list of Administration officials who were worried about criminal prosecution for their roles in the Administration. https://t.co/sYsOsV2YPM
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) January 8, 2021
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