When President-elect Trump returns to the nation's highest office, he will regain vast powers, including the power to grant pardons.
Trump's first four years as president pardoned 144 people — Even including some of his allies, the number was significantly smaller. Other than President Biden, whose term has not yet expired, the only president in modern history to have granted fewer pardons is President George H.W. Bush.
But heading into his second term, President Trump has promised large pardons to some people and hinted at bailouts for others, raising fears that a wave of pardons is looming. It's increasing.
Here's who President Trump might pardon when he returns to the White House.
steve bannon
Steve Bannon, the right-wing provocateur and former chief strategist to President Trump, was charged with two counts of contempt of Congress for failing to respond to a Congressional subpoena related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. was convicted of.
He was sentenced to four months in prison, completing his sentence in October, and could be one of the people to receive a pardon from President Trump.
During his first term, President Trump granted Bannon a “full and unconditional pardon” for his role in the Trump administration's fundraising scheme for the U.S.-Mexico border wall. New York state prosecutors subsequently launched their own investigation into the matter.
peter navarro
Former presidential aide Peter Navarro was released from a Miami federal prison in July after serving a four-month sentence for evading a House committee investigating him on January 6. Ta.
Mr. Navarro is seen as a likely candidate for a pardon from Mr. Trump, but said he is not seeking a pardon. Instead, he hopes his ongoing appeal of the conviction will reach the Supreme Court.
“I'm asking the Supreme Court to do this,” Navarro told reporters before his sentence began.
Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira
Trump was indicted along with two other defendants in the federal secrets case: Walt Nauta, a Trump valet, and Carlos de Oliveira, a property manager at Mar-a-Lago.
Although the case was dismissed, Special Counsel Jack Smith continued to appeal the sentences against Mr. Nauta and Mr. de Oliveira because, unlike President Trump, “the doctrine of temporary immunity does not apply to them.” There is. written in court filings. This leaves open the possibility that President Trump will pardon his former co-defendants.
But many of Trump's allies are largely out of luck. Dozens of officials face state charges in connection with efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election after President Trump's defeat, but the president's pardon power only applies to federal crimes.
January 6th mob
President Trump repeatedly vowed on the campaign trail to pardon the rioters accused of storming the Capitol on January 6th.
President Trump said in September: “The moment we win, we will quickly investigate the cases of all political prisoners who have been unjustly harmed by the Harris Administration and sign their pardons on day one.”
The scope of the conduct that day and the resulting charges vary widely. Many rioters were charged with misdemeanors, while several leaders of extremist groups were found guilty by juries of seditious conspiracy. It remains to be seen how many of the January 6 defendants will receive relief.
hunter biden
Hunter Biden is scheduled to be sentenced in December on separate gun and tax charges. Hunter's father, President Biden, has denied pardoning his son.
However, President Trump did not rule out pardoning the younger Biden in response to a question from conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt during an October 24 interview.
“I'm not going to take it off the books,” Trump said. “You know, unlike Joe Biden, despite what they did to me, despite what happened, they went after me so hard — and Hunter is the bad guy. There's no question about it. He was a bad boy.”
Eric Adams
President Trump has publicly sympathized with New York City Mayor Eric Adams after federal prosecutors revealed corruption charges against him.
“He was honest. I said he would be indicted within a year, and that's what happened,” Trump said in September. “Then I realized the indictment was very old. It goes back a long time. Well, I had the same one they got too, they went long before the statute of limitations. So I wish him all the best.”
During an appearance on CNN last week, anchor Wolf Blitzer repeatedly asked Adams whether he had discussed pardons with Trump, given the mayor's repeated emphasis on wanting to work with the president-elect. The mayor deflected and said his case would be handled by a team of lawyers.
“I won't go into private conversations, but that's not my agenda,” Adams said of the pardon.
George Santos
Disgraced former congressman George Santos of New York pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges and was sentenced on February 7, less than three weeks after President Trump took office. is scheduled to be sentenced. Santos could be sentenced to two years in prison.
When asked by a reporter for The Hill last year about a possible Trump pardon, Santos retorted, “Why would that little brain go there?”
“I'm not going to dwell on the future,” he said at the time.
Santos has been a vocal defender of President Trump and his Cabinet nominees, visiting the Capitol to seek confirmation as attorney general before former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) resigns.
Santos told reporters During his visit, he said asking for a pardon was “not a conversation I had.” I'm not going to have that conversation. ”
julian assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may also be on President Trump's pardon list.
in Podcast appearance The former president said earlier this year that he would “very seriously consider” pardoning Assange. Mr. Assange recently pleaded guilty to one felony count under the Espionage Act for his role in disclosing classified military information as part of a plea deal. his freedom.
President Trump also said he was open to the possibility of pardoning Edward Snowden, whom he previously called a “traitor.” Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, lobbied for Snowden to be pardoned during Trump's first term.
