President Donald Trump's White House is said to be considering extraordinary preemptive pardons that could protect thousands of administration staffers from future federal prosecution amid fears of a wave of Democrat-led investigations following next month's midterm elections.
uncertain
that → say → elections
The unprecedented proposal would potentially shield government employees who helped implement some of Trump's most controversial policies, including immigration enforcement, trade and military operations.
asserted
who → shield → enforcement
Trump himself appeared to leave the door wide open on Saturday, insisting that although he had not seriously considered granting sweeping pardons, he possessed the constitutional authority to do so.
asserted
he → appear → authority
The president suggested that officials serving in his administration could otherwise face years of politically motivated investigations, leaving them financially devastated by legal bills.
uncertain
officials → suggest → bills
'Well, I haven't thought of it, but I will tell you, it would be very unfair to go through what we went through for four years with the corrupt weaponization that took place,' Trump told reporters.
asserted
Trump → think → reporters
'So, in light of what Biden did - as you know, Biden shielded many people...
asserted
Biden → know → people
Certainly, I haven't thought about it, but certainly I'd be allowed to.'
asserted
I → think → it
His comments followed a report on Saturday by The Washington Sun that White House attorneys were examining the possibility of issuing preemptive pardons to lower-ranking administration officials who helped carry out Trump's agenda.
asserted
who → follow → agenda
While a blanket pardon covering every junior employee is considered unlikely, discussions have included protections for groups of officials working in particularly sensitive policy areas.
asserted
discussions → cover → areas
Trump has opened the door to preemptive pardons for thousands of White House staffers, insisting he has authority to shield employees from potentially ruinous federal investigations
The administration is reportedly considering sweeping pardons for officials involved in controversial immigration, trade and military policies amid fears of future investigations.
uncertain
administration → open → investigations
, Trump is seen with White House staffers in 2020
Such an extraordinary move would represent a significant expansion of the traditional use of presidential clemency, potentially protecting officials against federal charges for actions taken before any criminal investigation has even begun.
The discussions come amid concerns within Trump's orbit that Democrats could launch aggressive investigations into administration personnel if they regain control of Congress after the midterms.
However, congressional investigations themselves would not be prevented by presidential pardons, which apply to federal criminal offenses rather than political scrutiny.
Trump has repeatedly argued that his employees should not suffer the same legal battles that engulfed him and his allies after his first presidency.
'I certainly don't want to see innocent people go through hell and lose all their money,' the president said Saturday.
uncertain
president → see → money
He then turned to White House aide Margo Martin, who was standing nearby, and appeared to offer her a personal assurance.
asserted
who → turn → assurance
'Margo, you're not going to have to worry about it, OK?' Trump declared.
asserted
Trump → go → it
The president did not explicitly promise Martin a pardon or explain precisely what he meant.
asserted
he → promise → what
Donald Trump is seen speaking with Chamberlain Harris who serves as the Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations at the White House
Trump appeared to reassure White House aide Margo Martin as he discussed possible pardons on Saturday, telling her: 'Margo, you're not going to have to worry about it, OK?'
Trump aides, from left, Walt Nauta, Chris Ambrosini and Margo Martin are seen pictured outside the White House.
asserted
aides → see → House
The president says he does not want administration employees forced to spend years fighting costly legal battles
White House staffers are seen in social media posts from a state visit to UK in September 2025
But his remarks reinforced his increasingly outspoken determination to protect those serving in his administration from future legal jeopardy.
Earlier this month, Trump made a similar argument during an interview with Newsmax, suggesting that former President Joe Biden had already established a precedent for using clemency to shield political allies.
asserted
Biden → say → allies
'I don't want to see people that work for me go through years of nonsense, hire lawyers, and everything else,' Trump said.
asserted
Trump → want → lawyers
'I'm allowed to pardon.'
asserted
I → allow → ?
He also warned that administration officials could face investigations long after their government service ends.
uncertain
service → warn → investigations
'I don't want to see my people go through,' he said.
asserted
he → want → ?
'At the end of two and a half years, we will have done things that nobody's ever done.'
asserted
nobody → do → that
The possibility of sweeping pardons first emerged publicly in April, when the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was considering broad protections for members of his staff.
asserted
Trump → emerge → staff
Then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the suggestion at the time.
asserted
Leavitt → dismiss → time
The newspaper 'should learn to take a joke, however, the president's pardon power is absolute,' she said.
asserted
she → learn → joke
The White House has not publicly confirmed that a mass pardon plan is being prepared.
asserted
plan → confirm → ?
Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn in 2020 after he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation into Russian election interference
Longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone received a presidential pardon in December 2020 after being convicted of obstructing a congressional investigation, witness tampering and lying to Congress
Trump pardoned former White House strategist Steve Bannon in the final hours of his first presidency, wiping away federal fraud charges connected to a fundraising campaign for the border wall
Trump commuted the prison sentence of disgraced former GOP congressman George Santos in October 2025, freeing him less than three months into a sentence for fraud and identity theft
Trump also pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez after he was convicted for drug trafficking and weapons charges and sentenced to 45 years in prison
Trump has nevertheless demonstrated a willingness to use his clemency powers extensively, including granting pardons or commutations to approximately 1,500 people connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
During his first term, he pardoned several prominent political allies, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn, longtime confidant Roger Stone and former White House strategist Steve Bannon.
More recently, Trump commuted the prison sentence of disgraced former Republican congressman George Santos, who had pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft offenses.
asserted
who → pardon → offenses
He also pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been serving a 45-year prison sentence following his conviction in a massive cocaine-trafficking case.
asserted
who → pardon → case
Trump defended that controversial decision by arguing Hernández had been unfairly prosecuted.
asserted
Hernández → defend → decision
'The people of Honduras really thought he was set up, and it was a terrible thing,' Trump said.
asserted
Trump → think → Honduras
The president has repeatedly pointed to Biden's own controversial final pardons as justification for exercising his constitutional powers broadly.
asserted
president → point → powers
Trump insists he has not seriously considered mass pardons, but reports suggest White House attorneys are already exploring ways to protect administration officials from potential federal prosecution
The prospect of sweeping pardons has sparked fresh concerns over presidential power
asserted
prospect → insist → power
Before leaving office, Biden issued preemptive pardons to several family members, former infectious disease official Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley and members of the congressional committee investigating January 6.
asserted
Biden → leave → committee
Legal experts note that presidential pardons do not provide unlimited protection.
asserted
pardons → note → protection
Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, wrote Saturday that pardons 'do not provide absolute immunity.'
Recipients could still face state prosecutions, civil lawsuits and professional sanctions, even if they were protected from federal criminal charges.
uncertain
they → write → charges
Democratic Rep. Mike Levin has meanwhile backed a constitutional amendment restricting presidential clemency and prohibiting presidents from pardoning themselves.
asserted
Levin → back → themselves
Levin argued that 'presidents of both parties have misused' their authority, although he expressed particular concern about Trump's actions.
asserted
he → argue → actions
The proposal faces enormous constitutional hurdles, requiring two-thirds support in both chambers of Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states.
asserted
proposal → face → states
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for additional comment.
asserted
Mail → reach → comment
The Aporia
