Donald Trump is considering some big decisions about using his presidential pardon powers if he returns to the White House. He’s hinted at pardoning some of his strongest MAGA supporters and even brought up the idea of pardoning himself for the two federal cases against him. This comes after President Joe Biden recently set a major example by pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, and granting clemency to over 1,500 people.
Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter, who faced gun and tax charges, has stirred up controversy. He also commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 death row inmates, which sparked intense debate. Now, Democrats are worried Trump might use Biden’s actions to justify granting even more pardons if he wins the presidency again.
Trump has already promised to prioritize freeing people jailed for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. He’s said he’ll pardon them on his first day back in office, describing their conditions in prison as “filthy” and “disgusting.” If this plan goes through, more than 500 people could be released immediately, with nearly 1,000 additional cases possibly dismissed.
The January 6 riot led to over 1,400 arrests, with many charged for assaulting law enforcement or disrupting the Capitol. Some of these individuals received prison sentences of up to 12 years. Trump believes these sentences are unfair and has vowed to act quickly to help these individuals.
On top of this, Trump has not ruled out pardoning himself and his children. The U.S. Constitution doesn’t explicitly say whether a president can pardon themselves, leaving the matter open to interpretation. Some experts think it’s legally possible, and Trump might take advantage of this. He could also consider pardoning his children, especially if they face federal lawsuits related to his business empire. Trump’s company has already been convicted of tax fraud in New York, and other legal battles could involve his family.
Trump’s potential pardon list could also include key allies like Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, both of whom advised him during his 2020 election challenges. Legal experts argue they were exercising their rights as lawyers and might deserve pardons.
Another surprising name Trump has mentioned is Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City. Adams, a Democrat, was indicted on federal bribery and fraud charges. Trump claims Adams was targeted unfairly because of his criticism of immigration policies. While he hasn’t promised a pardon, Trump has said he’s open to considering it.
Then there’s Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the dark web marketplace Silk Road. Ulbricht is serving a life sentence but has strong support from activists who believe his punishment was too harsh. Trump previously said he would commute Ulbricht’s sentence, meaning he’d still be considered guilty but could be released from prison.
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, might also be on Trump’s radar. Assange spent years in the UK fighting extradition to the U.S. before agreeing to plead guilty to leaking classified information. Trump has said he’d seriously consider wiping Assange’s record clean.
Another controversial figure is Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Chauvin is serving over 20 years for his role in Floyd’s death, which sparked nationwide protests. While Trump hasn’t directly addressed the possibility of pardoning Chauvin, it’s a topic that some are speculating about.
Finally, Peter Navarro, a former trade adviser to Trump, could also be in line for a pardon. Navarro served a short prison sentence for contempt of Congress after defying a subpoena during the January 6 investigation. Trump has called him a patriot and criticized the way he was treated.
With all these names being floated around, Trump’s potential use of pardons is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about aspects of his possible return to office. Whether it’s his family, political allies, or even controversial figures like Assange and Ulbricht, Trump’s decisions could have far-reaching consequences.
