A source familiar with the talks says there is a belief that “forgiveness from Trump’s family and children is more likely and more urgent because forgiveness can take the process away.”
However, advisers and allies are concerned about the public perception of a pardon following the January 6 rebellion, which killed five people.
Sources told CNN that there is dissension within the West Wing of those who were shocked by the attack, many of whom are fighting a president whose main concern is protecting himself and his family.
The Capitol riot increases the potential for a new legal exposure for the president, his allies and family members who participated in the rally, if investigators investigate whether his words and actions could be subject to criminal prosecution.
On Tuesday, Trump defended his January 6 comments, saying they were “appropriate”.
The White House did not comment.
The source familiar with the White House talks said that Trump can issue a general pardon to cover himself and his children until he leaves office, adding, from Trump’s point of view, “it makes sense to just cover everything . “
Even before last week, the president had told advisers that he thought he and his family were unfairly targeted and that he is concerned about the possibility of lawsuits under the Biden Department of Justice, according to a source close to Trump.
Since his first year in office, Trump has been discussing forgiving himself and his children, but the attack on the Capitol creates a new dynamic around the messages and “public relations” of such pardons, according to a person familiar with the talks. in the White House.
“Before the justification was, they did nothing wrong,” said the source. But the attack on Capitol potentially changes that. The “Trump base may not care, but some Republicans and former supporters would not like it,” added the source. “There is blood on your hands after January 6.”
One of Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr., does not want forgiveness, a knowledgeable source told CNN. “His father never raised the issue with him, but Don told friends that he doesn’t want forgiveness because he doesn’t think it is necessary,” said the source.
Inside the White House, many employees are disgusted by the attacks and do not want to be involved in forgiving anyone who could have played a role, according to two people familiar with the matter.
A source said Trump intended to grant pardons beyond just his family. “More people than you would expect. Rudy is obvious,” said the person, referring to Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. “And a lot of discussions about the current team.”
The White House planned to release a group of pardons last week, but was delayed because of the unrest, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
The memo clearly states that under “the fundamental rule that no one can be a judge in his own case, the president cannot forgive himself”.
Breaking with the Justice Department’s memo on personal forgiveness, a former senior government official told CNN: “Trump could care less about the OLC memorandum. He will do what he wants and then fight in court if necessary. . “