Donald Trump has been making a standing offer to his White House staff: behave aggressively, carry out his agenda, and don’t worry about the consequences — because a pardon is coming, according to a new report.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Trump has repeatedly promised top administration officials blanket pardons before he leaves office, often joking about it in meetings with senior staff.
“I’ll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval,” Trump told one recent gathering, drawing laughs. The radius, sources told the Journal, appears to be expanding, as an earlier version of the quip put the distance at just 10 feet.
“The president has repeatedly raised the specter of pardons with White House aides and other administration officials, particularly when staff have suggested they could face prosecution or congressional investigations over decisions, people familiar with the comments said. Trump is known to joke about matters that he later seriously pursues, and the frequent references have led some aides to believe he is serious about the pardons, too,” the report said.
The offers come amid Democratic threats of aggressive investigations after the midterms.
“It seems like he previewed many times his intent to use the pardon power to bail out those who carry out his agenda faithfully,” said Liz Oyer, a former DOJ pardon attorney fired by Trump, warning the promises could spur officials to behave more aggressively.
Trump has already dispensed roughly 1,600 pardons this term, more than six times the number he issued in his entire first term.
The White House responded with a dig at the newspaper.
“The Wall Street Journal should learn to take a joke, however, the President’s pardon power is absolute,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary.
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