Trump Reportedly Weighs Mass Pardons for Junior Staff

White House lawyers are reportedly exploring how far President Trump can go in shielding his lower-level aides from future legal trouble. Two sources tell the Washington Sun that mass pardons for junior staff are on the table, though a blanket pardon for everyone is seen as doubtful. More likely, they say, are sweeping pardons tied to specific policy areas like immigration or war. Asked about the matter Saturday, Trump said it would "be very unfair" for junior staffers to endure the "corrupt weaponization" of the law he says took place in the previous administration, per Mediaite. "I certainly don't want to see innocent people go through hell and lose all their money."

Conservative groups including the Heritage Foundation and American Moment are pushing hard for protection or at least legal-defense funding, arguing that investigations by a potential Democratic Congress could target rank-and-file appointees. Legal experts say broad, preemptive pardons for large swaths of an administration would be unprecedented and could put the executive branch largely beyond federal criminal accountability.