Washington: At least two senior members of the outgoing US administration advised President Donald Trump to avoid pardoning himself, CNN reported.
Former US Attorney General William Barr conveyed his position to Trump last month before his resignation, the report said without providing details when another official – White House counsel Pat Cipollone provided similar advice to the President, the report said on Monday, citing multiple sources.
Two sources expressed doubts that Vice President Mike Pence would issue a pardon to Trump because he was disappointed with the president for his behavior, referring to Trump’s fiery speech before the riots on Capitol Hill.
Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building on January 6 – as Congress was trying to certify the presidential election results – after Trump urged his followers to keep fighting to prevent the election from being stolen.
Trump recently raised the idea of pardoning himself and his close relatives, according to the report. The president has the power to pardon himself but the self-pardon would only extend to federal crimes, the report noted.
Trump is expected to provide additional pardons before leaving office on January 20, the report added.
Five people died and more than 100 have been arrested in connection with the riots, according to a tally by The New York Times.