Reports: Trump May Issue Nearly 100 Pardons On His Last Day In Office, Won’t Pardon Himself - Forbes

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Topline

President Donald Trump will reportedly spend his last day in office issuing nearly 100 pardons and commutations — a list that purportedly excludes the president himself at the moment — in a move that may once again highlight Trump’s willingness to use his clemency powers to reward his most loyal friends and political allies.

Key Facts

Trump is preparing a list of around 100 pardons and commutations that includes white-collar criminals and rap musicians, among others, CNN and Reuters reported on Monday citing sources.

According to Reuters, Trump has privately debated the issue of issuing a self-pardon but he has been cautioned against it by advisers who believe that such a move would make him look guilty.

The outgoing president also doesn’t plan on issuing preemptive pardons for members of his family, something he had previously considered.

Several Trump supporters who perpetrated violence at the Capitol earlier this month have appealed for clemency from the president but, according to CNN, he is unlikely to pardon any of the rioters due pressure from close political allies like Lindsey Graham, who has discouraged such a move.

Tangent

According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Sunday, 68% of Americans are opposed to President Trump pardoning himself of any federal crimes he may be accused of.

Big Number

70. That’s the total number of presidential pardons Trump has issued so far, the lowest among all presidents since 1901, according to data collected by the Pew Research Center. In terms of overall clemencies — which also include commutations — Trump is slightly ahead of George H.W. Bush who issued only 77 clemencies in total during his single term.

Key Background

While he has issued far fewer pardons than his predecessors, many of Trump’s high-profile clemencies have invited controversy. The president’s most recent batch of pardons included former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn who had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his meeting with a Russian diplomat. Other controversial recipients include former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had engaged in racial profiling in detaining suspected undocumented migrants and four private military contractors charged with war crimes.