White House officials are considering a plan for President Trump to issue 250 pardons to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday this summer, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
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Trade QQQ with leverageThe plan remains in early-stage discussions. If implemented, it would further extend Trump’s already broad use of presidential pardon authority, which has drawn scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum.
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The pardons could be announced on June 14, which falls on Trump’s birthday and the Flag Day holiday, or on July 4. Trump has announced several high-profile pardons during his second term, including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, and former Nikola CEO Trevor Milton. Trump is also considering pardons for close associates before his second term ends.
Earlier this week, Jho Low, the alleged architect of the 1MDB scandal, one of the largest financial frauds in history, requested a pardon from Trump. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has also sought a pardon.