Speculation that President Donald Trump would forgive his family revolved around Washington while Democrats threatened Trump’s impeachment if his cabinet did not invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.
Claiming that Trump is unfit for the post after inciting a violent crowd that attacked the US Congress while certifying the election of Joe Biden as president, Democrats demanded that Vice President Mike Pence exercise the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In his final days as president, Trump issued a series of pardons and commutations to people he considers friends or allies. That list of pardons may extend to members of Trump’s immediate family.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that Trump discussed forgiving himself, an act that would be legally dubious and was never attempted by his predecessors. Bloomberg News also said that Trump himself was a possible target of forgiveness.
“I think it is extremely unlikely that he will resign,” Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday. “I think he is much more likely to try to forgive himself.”
Sources told Bloomberg News that Donald Trump is reviewing a list of possible pardons, including his daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, senior adviser Jared Kushner. Donald Trump is also considering granting a pardon to his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani proved to be a staunch ally of Donald Trump, leading the effort to prove, without evidence, Donald Trump’s allegations of widespread electoral fraud.
Tasos Katopodis / Getty
Some observers believe that removing Donald Trump from office, taking away his power to issue a final round of pardons that could be interpreted as self-interest, is an essential factor in preventing the lame president from causing further damage.
“If House is impeached today – that will put enormous pressure on Trump to behave for the next 13 days,” tweeted political commentator David Frum. “(EG there are no more corrupt pardons, for himself and for the family or for the pro-Trump rebels). He will put a senatorial collar around Trump’s neck until noon on the 20th.”
If House is impeached today – that will put enormous pressure on Trump to behave for the next 13 days. (EG there are no more corrupt pardons, for you and your family or for pro-Trump rebels). He will put a senatorial collar around Trump’s neck until noon on the 20th.
– David Frum (@davidfrum) January 7, 2021
“It is critical that Trump be removed BEFORE attempting any general preventive pardon from the Capitol terrorists, he and his family,” tweeted political strategist Greg Pinelo on Thursday. “Such pardons would not be legitimate, but would undermine the legality of the proceedings by the next AG and DOJ”.
It is critical that Trump be removed BEFORE attempting any general preventive pardon from the Capitol terrorists, he and his family. Such pardons would not be legitimate, but would undermine the legality of the proceedings by the next AG and DOJ.
– Greg Pinelo (@gregpinelo) January 7, 2021
Pence did not publicly state that he was considering invoking the 25th Amendment, prompting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to suggest the possibility of Donald Trump being the first US president to be impeached twice.
“If the vice president and the cabinet do not act, Congress may be prepared to move ahead with impeachment,” said Pelosi during a news conference on Thursday. “Whether he wants to be single and to be doubly impeachment, it depends on him and his office whether he remains in office.”
The impeachment process against Donald Trump would have to be conducted at an emergency Congress meeting. Members of the Senate and the House are not expected to return to Washington until at least January 20, the expected date for Biden’s inauguration.