President Donald Trump supposedly suggested to the top advisers that he wants to forgive himself before leaving office.
Trump is expected to announce a list of pardons on Jan. 19 – which includes senior White House officials, Donald Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushnerand rappers Kodak Black and Lil Wayne, according Bloomberg. theGRIO previously reported, Weezy, a pro-Trump supporter, is facing 10 years in prison after being charged with possession of a firearm while traveling on a private jet to Miami.
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According TMZ, federal agents received an anonymous tip that took them to Wayne’s private jet at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on December 23, 2019. When they started searching the plane, Wayne admitted he had a gun in his bag. The feds found a 1945 Remington, gold-plated .45 caliber loaded with 6 rounds of ammunition. They also claim to have found a bag containing drugs like cocaine, ecstasy and oxycodone. Lil Wayne pleaded guilty in federal court last month.
In the meantime, questioning minds want to know if the president has the authority to forgive himself and the dangerous precedent this could set if he did.
In 2018, Trump tweeted that he had an “absolute right” to forgive himself. The former reality show actor was reportedly told by his team that he could face a legal nightmare for inciting the violent violation of the United States Capitol on January 6.
“The main argument in favor of pardoning power is that the Constitution does not expressly exclude it and that pardoning power is extremely expansive,” he said. Brian Kalt, professor at Michigan State University School of Law.
“The argument against self-forgiveness starts with the idea that granting a pardon is, by definition, something that can only be done to someone else,” added Kalt. “There is also a general principle in the law against being the judge in your own case.”
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Legal analysts noted that personal forgiveness would trigger legal challenges aimed at undoing the president’s protection.
Trump has already forgiven several of his followers, including Paul Manafort, Roger Stoneand Charles Kushner, father of the president’s son-in-law.
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