Trump Promised Mass Pardons for White House Staff Before Leaving Office
President Donald Trump repeatedly promised to give mass pardons to his White House staff before leaving office, according to a Wall Street Journal report. He told aides he would "pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval" Office.
President Donald Trump made sweeping promises to pardon his entire White House staff before leaving office, according to a new Wall Street Journal investigation published Friday.
Trump told aides he would "pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval" Office, the report says. He made these offers repeatedly to top administration officials during his final weeks as president.
The timing matters because it came after the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Trump considered issuing mass pardons to his staff and campaign aides to prevent prosecutions by the incoming Biden administration, though he ultimately rejected the idea.
Presidential pardons wipe away federal criminal charges and convictions. They're typically used for individual cases, not entire groups of people. Trump used his pardon power extensively during his presidency for allies and supporters.
The report doesn't say whether any staff members actually received pardons or faced specific legal threats at the time.
Presidential pardons can erase federal criminal charges, meaning staff could avoid prosecution for any potential crimes. This shows how Trump tried to protect his team from legal consequences during his final days in office.
Watch for more details about which staff members were offered pardons and whether any legal cases emerge.
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