Trump Signals Sweeping Pardons, While Former DOJ Official Warns of Legal Risks
In a 60 Minutes interview, Trump said he expects to issue a large number of pardons before his term ends. He said he does not expect to pardon himself, though he believes he has the power to do so, and suggested people who served in his administration could receive pardons.
Trump said he wants to spare officials from spending years defending themselves against what he called politically motivated attacks. He also defended his pardons for people convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including some who assaulted law enforcement. Trump said some rioters “got rough,” but added that officers were rough with them as well.
Oyer said Trump’s pledge indicates that people in his administration are concerned about legal exposure and may be relying on pardons for protection. She cautioned that a blanket pardon for executive-branch officials could be challenged, arguing that such a move could put the branch beyond laws enacted by Congress. Officials counting on that protection, she said, could be taking a risk.
Oyer also criticized Trump’s use of the pardon power, saying it was losing public legitimacy. She urged Congress to investigate and address the exemption that keeps the president and vice president outside the federal statute on conflicts of interest, which covers other executive-branch officials. Trump, in the interview, said he had no knowledge of his investments; Oyer rejected that claim and said he has investments across sectors he regulates.
Trump’s Pardon Promise Raises Fears of Accountability Evasion
Trump’s promise of “tremendous numbers” of pardons puts the prospect of legal protection for his administration at the center of his final years in office. In a 60 Minutes interview, he said he expects to pardon people who served around him, while insisting he does not expect to pardon himself.
Former Justice Department pardon attorney Liz Oyer said the pledge signals that people in the administration are worried about legal exposure and believe they need protection for actions taken in support of Trump’s agenda. She warned that a blanket pardon for executive-branch officials could be challenged because it could effectively place the branch beyond laws passed by Congress. Officials banking on that shield, she said, may not get it.
The stakes are sharpened by Trump’s defense of pardons for people convicted over the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including some who assaulted police. Trump said some rioters got rough, but also said officers were rough with them. Oyer said the pardon power was losing public legitimacy under Trump.
Oyer also questioned Trump’s claim that he does not know what is happening with his investments, noting that he is invested in sectors he regulates. She called on Congress to investigate and close the federal conflict-of-interest exemption for presidents and vice presidents. The pledge and the loophole, taken together, raise questions about accountability for those wielding executive power and benefiting from it.
Trump Defends Broad Pardon Power as Critics Challenge His Plans
President Donald Trump says he wants to prevent public servants from spending years defending themselves against what he describes as politically motivated attacks. In a 60 Minutes interview, he said he plans “tremendous numbers” of pardons before leaving office and may pardon people who served around him. He said he does not expect to pardon himself, despite believing he could.
Trump also defended his pardons for people convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Asked about rioters who assaulted police, he said some got rough but argued that officers were rough with them too. His position is that people he considers unfairly treated should not be left to endure prolonged legal battles.
Liz Oyer, a former Justice Department pardon attorney, argued that Trump’s pledge reflects concerns about legal exposure inside the administration. She said a sweeping pardon for executive-branch officials could be challenged as putting the branch beyond laws passed by Congress, and warned that officials who count on such protection may not receive it.
Oyer also criticized Trump’s use of pardons and urged Congress to investigate the exemption that excludes presidents and vice presidents from the federal conflict-of-interest law governing other executive officials. She disputed Trump’s claim that he does not know what is happening with his investments, saying he has investments in sectors he regulates. The disagreement puts the reach of presidential pardon power and the treatment of administration officials at the heart of the debate.
Reported by Raw Story, ABC News.
