Trump will not pardon himself, sources say

WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump at this point is opting not to issue a pardon for himself as he prepares a list of more than 100 pardons and commutations for release tomorrow, a source familiar with the effort said.

White House advisers have said Trump has privately debated with advisers whether to take the extraordinary step of issuing a pardon for himself, but some administration officials have cautioned Trump against it.

Many scholars have said a selfpardon would be unconstitutional because it violates the principle that nobody should be the judge in their own case.

Others have argued a selfpardon is constitutional because the pardon power is very broadly worded in the constitution. Historical texts made clear that the nation’s 18thcentury founders discussed selfpardons, but opted not to include an explicit limitation on that power.

Trump was impeached by the Democraticled House of Representatives last week on charges of inciting the storming of the US Capitol on January 7. His case is to face a Senate trial; if convicted, he could be disqualified from running for president in 2024.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said so far Trump did not plan to pardon himself and also did not plan to issue preemptive pardons for members of his family, another subject he has discussed privately with advisers.

Trump, who has already issued two waves of pardons in the past month, met advisers yesterday to decide on a list of more than 100 pardons and commutations, the source said.

The source said the clemencies were expected to be issued on

Trump’s last full day in office tomorrow. Skipping the inauguration of presidentelect Joe Biden, Trump leaves on Thursday to begin his postpresidency at his MaraLago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Law enforcement officers far outnumbered protesters at state capitol grounds in the US yesterday, as few Trump supporters showed for what authorities had feared could be violent protests. security forces had anticipated might be violent protests.

However, the FBI and other federal agencies have warned of the potential for future violence leading up to Thursday and a heavy security presence remains in Washington and across the US.

Today is traditionally a ‘‘Lobby Day’’ for the public to share views at the state legislature; a Virginia progun group and the farright ‘‘boogaloo’’ movement have declared plans to hold protests on this year’s Lobby Day. — Reuters