In His Final Weeks, Trump Could Dole Out Many Pardons To Friends, Allies
The president could shield his allies from some prosecution. Critics say Trump is trying to help cronies — and maybe himself — escape accountability.
On more than one occasion, President Trump has demonstrated his willingness to use his pardon power to pluck a political ally or associate out of legal trouble.
In July, he commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and informal adviser Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress. Last week, he pardoned his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.
That has set the stage for a possible run on pardons in the closing weeks of the Trump administration. The list of Trump associates who are facing or could face federal charges is long.
It is not unusual for a
