Trump’s former advisers (and himself ) next in line for a pardon

DONALD TRUMP is expected to issue a wave of pardons, i ncluding some related to the Russia investigation, in his final weeks in office.

It raises the possibility that the US president may also attempt to pre-emptively pardon himself in an effort to avoid any potential future legal entanglements.

On Wednesday Mr Trump pardoned Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, who had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a Russian ambassador.

After doing so he posted on Twitter comments from Matt Gaetz, a close ally and a Republican congressman. Mr Gaetz said: “President Trump should pardon Flynn, the Thanksgiving turkey, and everyone from himself, to his administration.”

The question of whether a president can self-pardon has never been constitutionally tested. If Mr Trump attempts to do so, it could go to the supreme court.

Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general and national security adviser for two weeks at the start of Mr Trump’s administration, has yet to be sentenced.

His family said he was the victim of a partisan prosecution and a “hideous wrong”. They stated: “Tyranny will not topple us. Masks will not silence us. Threats will not stop us. Evil will not triumph. May God Bless President Trump.”

Mr Trump wrote on Twitter: “Have a great life General Flynn!” The president is keen to undo, as much as possible, the results of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into links between his 2016 campaign and Russia, which he maintained had always been a “witch hunt” by Democrats.

Others who could now be pardoned include Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman who was jailed for fraud, George Papadopoulos, his former campaign adviser who served 12 days for lying to the FBI, and Rick Gates, a former senior aide who was sentenced to 45 days for conspiracy.

Mr Gates told The New York Times: “The president knows how much those of us who worked for him have suffered, and I hope he takes that into consideration if and when he grants any pardons.” Mr Papadopoulos said he didn’t expect one but “would be honoured to be pardoned”.

Others potentially in line include Steve Bannon, his former adviser. He has denied charges of defrauding donors over a plan to build a wall on the Us-mexico border.

It is traditional for departing presidents to issue pardons. Bill Clinton controversially pardoned a Democrat donor, and his own half brother.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat Speaker of the House, called the Flynn pardon an “act of grave corruption and a brazen abuse of power”.

Others lobbying for pardons include Joe Exotic, the former zookeeper and star of the TV show Tiger King, jailed for 22 years over a murder-for-hire plot. His representatives reportedly spent $10,000 at Mr Trump’s hotel in Washington in a bid for the president’s attention.

An NBC poll showed that most Americans thought presidents should not be able to pardon themselves.