White House Explores 250 Pardons to Mark America’s 250th Birthday: WSJ
The reported plan could include Ghislaine Maxwell and Sam Bankman-Fried, and would amount to one clemency action for each year of U.S. history.
- President Donald Trump is considering issuing 250 presidential pardons to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America, according to The Wall Street Journal. The president may announce the acts of mercy on July 4, 2026, or his 80th birthday on June 14th.
- Trump's expanded use of presidential clemency has driven record pardon requests, with more than 16,000 formal submissions last year—the highest since 1937. On his first day back in office last year, Trump issued pardons to over 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol storming.
- High-Profile figures seeking a reprieve include Ghislaine Maxwell and Sam Bankman-Fried, per The Wall Street Journal. Maxwell's lawyer floated clemency in exchange for testimony, while Trump has publicly scoffed at a pardon for the FTX founder.
- White House officials have raised concerns that issuing too many pardons could affect Republicans in the midterm elections this fall. Officials noted "no decisions had been made," emphasizing that Trump is the ultimate decision maker on clemency actions.
- Trump has also brought up "widespread pardons for his staff before he leaves office," suggesting the 250-pardon plan may be part of a broader clemency strategy. Critics argue such moves risk "normalizing public corruption" by downplaying crimes committed by officials.
15 Articles
15 Articles
White House Explores 250 Pardons to Mark America’s 250th Birthday
White House officials are weighing a plan for President Trump to issue 250 pardons as a way to mark the celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday this summer, according to people familiar with the matter. The plan is still in preliminary discussions but, if carried out, would expand Trump’s already wide use of the pardon power.
Trump's Presidential Pardon Plans for America's 250th Triggers GOP Anxiety: Here's Why the Timing Couldn't Be Worse
Donald Trump is reportedly considering issuing 250 pardons to mark America’s 250th anniversary, sparking debate among White House allies over the scale and political impact of the move.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Trump wants to pardon 250 people for America’s 250th birthday: report
The president may make the announcement on June 14, his own birthday, or on July 4, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal
The President of the United States can announce these pardons on June 14th.
White House worried by Trump's birthday pardon plan: report
Trump is planning a major pardon spree to celebrate his and the nation's upcoming birthdays, and White House officials are alarmed, according to a new report.The United States' 250th birthday is coming up, and Trump has it in mind to mark the occasion by issuing a whopping 250 pardons, according to ...
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