Trump administration considers mass pardons for junior staffers

White House attorneys are reportedly evaluating the possibility of issuing preemptive blanket pardons for junior administration personnel. The goal of such a move would be to shield lower-level staff from potential future prosecutions, particularly in specific policy areas such as trade, war, or deportations.

President Donald Trump has previously expressed interest in protecting administration officials to prevent them from facing legal challenges. This follows comments from Senator Elissa Slotkin, who suggested that the threat of legal battles could deter young professionals from participating in the administration.

Some critics, including former Republican professor Tom Nichols, have argued that using the pardon power as a blanket shield to prevent accountability could lead to calls for radical changes or the elimination of the presidential pardon power altogether.