President Trump is expected to issue up to 100 pardons and commutations on Tuesday, a senior government official and a senior White House official told CBS News. Tuesday marks Mr. Trump’s last full day in office.
None of the sources revealed any of the recipients, although the president is not expected to try to forgive himself, a source said. CNN first reported the expectation of up to 100 acts of clemency this week.
The White House invited guests to a president’s farewell ceremony at Andrews Joint Base at 8 am, four hours before President-elect Joe Biden took office.
The anticipated clemency actions would come less than a week after Mr. Trump was impeachment for the second time, this time to incite the uprising after the Capitol riots on January 6.
To date, Trump has granted 70 pardons, most in December, according to Justice Department records. The president waited until after the November election to issue some of his most controversial pardons, including former campaign president Paul Manafort; son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner; and longtime ally Roger Stone.
When President Obama stepped down, he had forgiven 212 people; 189 were forgiven by President George W. Bush; and 396 received pardon from President Clinton, according to the Department of Justice.
Presidents often step up their clemency actions before leaving office. Forgiveness erases a person’s conviction, while commuting only shortens or ends a sentence.
The president’s pardoning powers are virtually limitless when it comes to federal crimes. Presidential pardoning power allows the president to pardon any federal crime, but not state crimes. Article II of the Constitution states that the president “will have the power to grant extensions and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment”.
– Kathryn Watson contributed reporting