Over 100 Pardons Expected on Donald Trump’s Last Full Day in Office

President Donald Trump is expected to issue more than 100 presidential pardons and commutations on his last full day in office on Tuesday, though it remains unclear if his family or close political advisers will benefit from the outgoing president’s clemency.

It’s anticipated that some of the pardons will have a focus on criminal justice reform – an issue Trump has taken an interest in – but Tuesday could also see the president issue pardons for political backers who could face charges once he leaves office.

Two of the most talked about possible recipients are former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon. As Trump’s personal lawyer, Giuliani has pushed the unfounded claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against Trump. while Bannon is facing charges of fraud.

“Trump will issue last second pardons tomorrow. They’ll be another abuse of power by a corrupt, failed, one-term, twice-impeached president who has routinely undermined the rule of law, the constitution, and our democracy,” Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal tweeted on Monday.

Trump will issue last second pardons tomorrow. They'll be another abuse of power by a corrupt, failed, one-term, twice-impeached president who has routinely undermined the rule of law, the constitution, and our democracy.

We must hold him accountable even after he leaves office.

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 19, 2021

“We must hold him accountable even after he leaves office,” she said.

Trump could also take the unprecedented step of pardoning himself. No president has ever tried to do so and it remains unclear if such a pardon would be constitutional. But Trump was reportedly considering the move even before the deadly riot at the Capitol on January 6 opened him up to potential liability.

Details on Trump’s pardons should become clear later on Tuesday but speculation has been rife since President-elect Joe Biden won the election that Trump will use his powers to protect those close to him from potential prosecution.