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Trump says he’d consider issuing pardons to administration officials before he leaves office

Trump said Biden’s preemptive pardons set a precedent as he weighed clemency for officials who could face future Democratic investigations.

  • During a TIME interview published Thursday, President Donald Trump said he would consider issuing preemptive pardons to administration members before leaving office if they faced investigations under a future Democratic government.
  • Trump's comments reflect former President Joe Biden's use of preemptive pardons on January 20, 2025, when Biden granted clemency to Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and House committee staff investigating the January 6 Capitol attack, citing protection from politically motivated prosecutions.
  • Comparing his position to Biden's, Trump questioned the fairness of the precedent, stating "Sleepy Joe gave pardons to everybody. He gave them to Fauci. But, you mean, I'm not allowed to give them, but Sleepy Joe's allowed to give them?"
  • No specific officials have been identified as potential pardon recipients, though Trump's track record shows extensive use of clemency; he has already pardoned roughly 1,500 people charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack.
  • Both administrations have cited concerns about politically motivated prosecutions when contemplating broad pardon powers, establishing a pattern where presidents consider preemptive clemency to shield allies from opposition investigations.
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Mediaite broke the news in New York, United States on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
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